Your Inspiration  

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I woke up this morning and felt like rolling over and going back to sleep. I knew that wasn't in the cards for today though. I had way too many things going on to play sick. That doesn't mean the thought didn't keep running through my head all morning. From the shower to the kitchen (for my wonderful coffee) to the truck and all the way down the road. I kept looking for an excuse to go back home. Nothing was a good enough excuse to turn me around.

I presented my training this morning and after the meeting somebody made the comment that I seemed inspired this morning. I have to admit I almost laughed in their face. I was anything but inspired this morning. Well in all fairness I was inspired but it was not aimed at work.

It got me to thinking about some of the inspiration in my life. I have a few different wells that I can draw from if I'm looking for something to pick me up. Joe over at The Shadow of my Life mentioned that I have met a lot of interesting people. Well he is absolutely right, I have met some really interesting people. Some of those same people are the ones I get inspiration from. I'll share a few of their stories and let you decide if these people are deserving of the title "inspirational".

J is an addict. He was addicted to "ice" for about 12 years. He did it the old fashioned way too. He snorted that stuff and it tore up his nose something fierce. You wouldn't know it to look at him now though. He doesn't show those scars on the outside. He has been "sober" for 4 years now. After hitting rock bottom he went into rehab. Came out and went right back in. Moved out of the area, and came back when he was stronger in his mind. This guy was a pathological liar, gambler and user. Did I mention he's clean for 4 YEARS!! I guess I should also mention that he's going to college and carrying above an A average. (that's just silly to me). Says he's gonna be a teacher and I believe him. He never gave up on himself, and either did his family. By the way we are very proud of him, that's my brother.

L was as sweet a woman as you could hope to meet. Her mother died of brain cancer when she was a young woman. She spent her life worrying that one day she would contract it as well since the doctors told her that it was genetic. She had a way of making you feel safe when you were around her. If she spoke with you then you knew that you were the focus of her attention. She developed breast cancer in her late 50's. After a double mastectomy she was ok for a good long while. Inevitably the cancer came back in her (yep you guessed it) brain. Through her whole ordeal she maintained her composure. She never let you know the misery and fear she had to be feeling. She lost her battle with the one thing that she feared the most throughout her life, but that didn't keep her from being a great person. A week after she died, her husband was still finding his lunches wrapped and ready for him
in the freezer. She knew that she wouldn't be able to take care of him after she was gone, so she wrote down everything she did in the house and how she did it. What an amazing woman to do that while she was fighting for her life.

C was a cashier at 7-11 for about 20 years. Her husband was a prominent businessman when they were younger. He died at a fairly young age, but he left her comfortable. She was bored at home so she decided that working at the store would be good to keep her busy. As she approached her 75th birthday, it became clear that she couldn't keep up with the fast pace of the convenience store. The boss was forced to let her go. She was not the type of woman you wanted to get "smart" with. You were respectful when you dealt with her, because she demanded it. Not with words, but with her character. I can remember feeling nothing but guilt for being rude with her one day. She never brought it up to me, but I apologized to her the very next day because it was eating me up. She left that store and got a job at the McDonald's cleaning tables and greeting customers. I should mention that at 90 she is still doing this job and people go to the McD's to see her more than to eat the food.

Well that's a sampling of some of the great people I'm fortunate enough to have known in my life. I see what they have overcome and realize that my problems are trivial in comparison. I'm sure many of you have these same people in your lives they just have different names. Take a minute and thank them for all they have given you. I'll bet they will be surprised to find they are YOUR inspiration.

This entry was posted at Thursday, March 18, 2010 and is filed under , . You can follow any responses to this entry through the comments feed .

12 comments

What inspiring people!!!

There was a woman who works at a local McD's...she has been there for at least 15 years and is at least 70 years old...I bet she will be there for at least another 15 years, God willing!

Great post!

March 18, 2010 at 4:47 PM

L was very inspiring. That sounds just like something my bride would have done for me. It would have been very bitter sweet to be finding those lunches in the freezer.
It would have made me start bawling like a baby for so many different reasons.

March 18, 2010 at 5:31 PM

What a wonderful post. You have a gift for seeing things in people that many others would overlook. I am always awe struck at the depth of your character and the sensitivity you possess. You are a remarkable person and an inspiration as well.

March 18, 2010 at 5:41 PM
Anonymous  

What a lovely and thoughful post.

March 18, 2010 at 6:23 PM

Momof3inVA....I hope that she is still there in 15 years!

Joe...She was a truly wonderful person...I too would have been so much jelly if that was my wife doing that.

Rae...Thank you so much...I think that is one of the nicest things anybody has ever said to me...(I'm blushing a little bit..)

Lisa Marie..thank you..I hope I can give a couple more like this in the future..

March 18, 2010 at 8:06 PM

Wow all very inspiring stories! L's story struck me deeply. I couldn't imagining my wife getting breast cancer and then brain cancer and even through that leaving me lunches. I would want to die every time I found one.

March 19, 2010 at 1:50 AM

Incredibly inspiring :)

March 19, 2010 at 5:00 AM

Bendigo, I'm helping my mother through some difficult times. Yesterday she said 'I'll sing again.' She is my inspiration.

March 19, 2010 at 8:30 AM

Jerry...I agree, but that was just the person she was..wonderful lady..

little bird...they get me moving that's for sure..

Tina...I hope for nothing but the best for your mom...funny thing how the most inspiring people in our lives don't even realize their impact usually...I am willing to bet that she finds you to be her inspiration as well...

March 19, 2010 at 10:22 AM

I loved the story about your brother. It takes a whole lot of courage and nerve to shake a habit as hard to get rid of as that and get a grip on your life. I can't even imagine how hard it's been for him and am so glad to see that he has dreams and is eager to fulfill them!

And WOW on the 90 year-old still being active, regardless of her age!! I hope I'll be like her :)

You're right, you know. We should tell the people that inspire us that they do.

March 19, 2010 at 3:46 PM

Very inspiring! Thank you so much for sharing with us Bendigo!

March 21, 2010 at 1:16 AM

Wow. I can only hope that I have an ounce of their strength when faced with such things in my life.

You are right Bendigo, very inspiring!

xoxo

March 21, 2010 at 3:28 PM

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