Inspirations Vol. I

"Conan, what is good in life?"
"To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of their women!"

How's that for an opener, eh? So I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that this little rabbit is off his gourd. What does Conan the Barbarian have to do with anything? Well, not much really. I love that quote, though. But it does get me thinking about what I think is good in life. This being Monday, the start of the Dreaded Work Week, I think it's appropriate to start a list of what is good in life, what inspires me. Rather than dwelling on the negative, what is positive? Gag if you will, but I challenge you to do the same in your own life. What makes you happy, inspires you, or just makes you smile? It's a good exercise, especially when you need a pick-me-up after a long, hard day. So here's my list. It's by no means a complete list. Who knows, maybe I'll make this a regular post when I need some positivity. And if you refuse to read something positive and happy, be sure to check back. I'm sure I'll be writing on the other end of the spectrum soon.

THE LIST OF THINGS THAT INSPIRE ME:

1. My Wife: Ok, ok. I can hear you now, "Oh, he's just brown-nosing for points", And though it's true that I'll gladly take points, it's not the sole reason for this being a major inspiration. No other person has ever done or continues to do so much to inspire me. She is my greatest friend and my closest confidante. She encourages me to reach for the heights and supports me when I fall. She helps in any way she can, and I can always count on her to be there for me. She is wonderful incarnate, and to me there is no greater inspiration than the mere thought that she is in my life. I'm sorry if this sounds super-sappy, but I can't even begin to describe how magical she is to me. When nothing else in this world can inspire me, she can, with just the flash of a smile. Thanks, Sweetheart. Without her, life is a dull film reel that is as exciting as the safety films in school. The ones that aren't funny to make fun of.

2. The Ocean: I'm not sure where this one came from. After all, where I grew up, the largest body of water was the local "Lake". More like the local pond. I think it has to do with being a kid and every summer meant a trip to the beach. Those were some of the best times and are still clearly etched into my brain. The sound of the surf, the sand in my toes, the sun on my face, it was a recipe for magic in my mind. Tied to this is the music of the 80's. Every shop on the boardwalk was playing the new music and every radio station at the beach played the hits, so like Pavlov's dogs, my mind automatically thinks "beach" and I get the warm, happy feeling of my childhood.

As for the ocean itself, it has a power all its own on me. There is a mystery and tranquility there that soothes me when I think about it. I feel drawn to anything relating to the ocean. Aquariums, nature shows, books, anything that will give me a taste of the mysteries of the ocean. Though the night sky holds a similar sway over me, space itself is not as awe inspiring as the ocean. Perhaps it's something primordial in my brain that gives me this interest in the ocean. Maybe I just like the color blue. I'm not sure. But the Ocean is a definite source of inspiration and tranquility to me, so it is definitely on the list. Someday I hope to live near enough to the ocean that I can indulge my yearning any time I wish. Being a a landlocked lover of the sea is a difficult thing, let me tell you. To me, ocean is the stuff of dreams and contact with it is like touching the inner part of myself. Plus, riding waves is crazy fun!

Well, I think I'll leave off at two for now. Believe me, the list is long, dark and deep, but I have miles to go before I sleep. And I'm sure you do as well. So instead of assaulting your eyes with a novel-length post, I'll spoon it up in more digestible parts whenever the day is rough and I can use some lift. Hopefully it gets you thinking about your own list of inspirations. They don't have to be lofty or monumental, just those things that make you happy. When the day starts beating you down, whip out your list, think about something inspiring you, and you'll be amazed what happens. Like in Peter Pan, you may just learn to fly. Or at the very least, maybe you'll smile when life is trying to drag you down. And that's something every bit as amazing as flying.