Inspirin'

3 Things That Inspire Me:

1. Married people who work through seriously rough patches together. Maybe the possibilities of divorce, maybe infidelity, maybe losing a loved one, maybe severe illness, maybe financial hardship. Maybe any number of problems ... I just think it's really one of the most beautiful displays of humanity - when two people actually show what they mean when they promise each other unconditional love, commit forever to one another, forgive and truly care through thick and thin.

2. When someone goes out of his or her way, really inconveniences him or herself, actually makes a sacrifice to do something kind for someone else. To take that extra step, to go above and beyond, to give 110% when 95% was probably plenty. When it's frustrating that nobody cares to notice, or that no one will rise to the occasion. But when someone works extra hard anyway, gives 110% because even though no one may notice or care if you settled for 95%, you know what you gave, and you know you're a better person because you didn't settle. Because you won't settle. And there's something just so deeply engrained in you to give your all and then push harder. Whatever that is, it's what does the reaffirming you won't usually get from others. It gives you that pat on the back the 95%er won't ever even realize you need. It keeps you in a constant state of motivation and almost always ready to burst at the seams with passion and joy at any moment.

3. People having fun. Not promoted fun they were paid to pretend to have. Not photographic fun that highlights your fancy new sweater or shinier / whiter teeth. Not forced fun you tactfully embrace during a work outing. I'm talkin' serious fun. The sort of uncontrollable, genuinely epic fun you have when you just let yourself delight in what you're doing, in the people around you, in the moments you're so lucky to have.

Wahoo for inspiration. Go Obstacle-overcomin-lovers! 110%ers! and Fun-Havers! Hip hip hooray. Happy Sunday :).