Inspired

To be inspired, you are mentally stimulated to do or feel something. The dictionary defines it as being filled with courage or strength of purpose. Inspiration comes in many forms and often times appears when least expected. I want to be inspired, compelled to be different, and do better than I am currently.

People are a wonderful source of inspiration, whether they are famous like Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King Jr., or everyday people that are part of your life. I feel Tom is extremely inspiring. He deals with chronic pain day in and day out, helps people wherever and whenever he can, while constantly watching out for us. He is my best cheerleader, always trying to get the best out of me. I could be more like him.

There are a couple of people we watch on YouTube that I think are inspirational. Laura Kampf is a creator from Germany. She has a great attitude and makes interesting things. One of her best traits is how she is not afraid to show her mistakes and what she learns from them. She uses unconventional items in her projects, working outside the “norm.” That is a lesson that would serve me well.

Another one from YouTube is Casey LaDelle. He has a towing business in Oregon and and often does not charge people when he rescues or recovers their vehicles, relying just on the revenue from people watching his channel. He is very giving in other ways too. He has helped a homeless veteran move into a tiny home community where he can be safe, warm, and dry. He works with Public Land Stewards in Bend, helping with the cleanup of public lands when cars, trucks, and RVs are abandoned and mountains of trash are left behind. He is the inspiration for our cleanup efforts when we see litter.

Looking back at my work life, there are several people that were inspiring for me. One that stands out is Tim Richmer. He held us to high standards, but was also understanding. He encouraged or scolded depending on the need. He gave us enough freedom to try new things and work to succeed. There was always room for community involvement, giving generously and lending a helping hand. I learned so much working for him and would do it again.

Places and things can also inspire. Historic places encourage my sense of knowledge. Beautiful music moves people and encourages me to be positive. Landscapes inspire awe and give ideas of what I could do at home. Learning or mastering new skills energizes for me.

What or who inspires you? Is it a place, a thing, someone famous, a member of your family, a colleague or friend? How does that inspiration mold who you are or strive to be?

Yesterday we we got our ebikes. They were demo models at the RV Show that just ended, and were available for sale the last day. This morning Tom sat us down to read the online manual, getting the customizations set for our preferred use. Later we went riding on pavement with Lynn & Carol for around an hour to see where they varied. We hope to try them on some other terrain very soon. I think we will be around here for another couple weeks so there will be plenty of opportunity for it.

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