Parkinson's is a tough world to be a part of. We went to our monthly PD meeting yesterday and one of the discussion questions was "what has inspired you recently?" Inspiration is when people engage in life, the operative word being 'engage'. It is both passive and active: passive is the piece where you see someone else doing something that inspires you to want to do something and the active piece is the inspirational motivation causing you to want to create a moment of value. It is about your attitude, not your circumstances. Just living is not enough, one must have empathy, motivation and inspiration.
Part of the reason we get lost in our own blahs, seeking to be inspired is because we drive ourselves from within, only seeing our needs, our failings, our frustrations. So, who or what inspires you?
From our meeting...
- people with PD who appear to be thriving
- the simple act of working together with a common goal, laughing, learning and doing as a team
- the act of slowing down and being mindful
- being active...swim, boxing, dancing, golf, walk, ski
- participating in the Durango Adaptive Sports programs
- being cared for by the immigrants during travel who have found work as 'chariot' (wheelchair) drivers at airports
- being witness at a monthly PD meeting to those who 'show up', choose life, choose mobility, choose to be engaged in the world
- Being inspired helps us to see beyondd our own box, infusing us with motivation to try something we had not considered.
- No one 'knows all', we need others. We are meant to live in community and not do life on our own.
- Watching others move beyond their own issues helps us to be more aware of possibility.
- The warmth, kindness and compassion of strangers reminds us of the good in humanity.
Inspiration is just a miracle of sorts. Sometimes inspiration is the miracle that makes us realize we matter and we can do more than we thought we could. When you think you are failing, look up, look around and see the reality of life swirling about filled with acts of love and care. As you wander through your day, acknowledge your choices even when it isn't pretty and know you are a miracle!
and as someone said..."Before the perspiration--even before the motivation--you need to find inspiration".