Putting Fingers to Keyboard.....#WQ...Theme: People who Inspire/MLK Day

It's another week of  Wednesday Quotes, hosted by Marsha from Always Write. If you're interested in joining, you can find more about #WQ here.

This weeks theme is centered around people who inspire/MLK Day.  I love being inspired by the lives of others. Whether it's people I know in person, a person I read about online or see on TV. Perhaps it's someone I've read about in a book. Sometimes a celebrity or sports figure. Rarely a political affiliate...sorry. 

Martin Luther King was someone whose words and life were and still are worthy of being inspired by. A few years ago when things started to escalate more, on the front of racism, etc...I paused to think...

1. I grew up in a town that was predominately white. I think I only remember 1 or 2 families that were black (one of their sons was a friend of my sisters and spent time at our house), and I can't think of any who were of other races.

2. I moved to a town that is predominately white, though, because of a lot of farming, there is a high population of hispanic families.

3. If I look at my friends, in real life, and online, the majority of them are white...now that could be because of my demographics. 

One of my first thoughts after realizing this was, "I need more friends of different races."

Until I was in fourth grade, I lived in Lorain, Ohio. A city in northern Ohio on Lake Erie. The family that lived behind us and some of our best playmates were a black family. I've thought of them over the years (they had 10+ kids) and wondered what they ended up doing in life! Did they have to fight the prejudices, did they give in to the "identity" that people labeled them with. I don't know. 

I don't think I've ever thought of myself as being racist in any way. As I look back I don't think my family was, but I do recall certain words used, that I now realize were derogatory.....yet, those who spoke them seemed to have friends of other races. Was it just considered "normal". I don't know. 

 I want to become more aware of things I just don't know about. Whether it be from people of color, people who are desperately poor, those who have gone through traumatic experiences...I don't want to be ignorant. I want to be inspired by people who "days" are named after, but also the everyday person I meet, the people who fly under the radar, people who may never be acknowledged. I want to be a noticer of those who are doing and being something/someone worthy of being an inspiration...I want to be someone that can inspire others. 

I just finished an audio book Called The Choice: Embrace the Possible A memoir by Dr. Edith Eva Eger. She chronicles her life surviving Auschwitz, and can I just say, you need to read/listen to this book. I listened to the audio and it was so powerful. You can also find videos of her online. She inspired me...her life of courage inspired me.

She had so many great quotes...One I loved was:

 "In the end, it's not what happens to us that matters most--it's what we choose to do with it".

Here are some of the quotes I found that "inspired me".  

My 78 year old mother in law inspires me so much. She is always inspiring, but she recently (after hearing of my goal of 70,000 steps a week and making a new friend with an 84 year old gal) became inspired to walk more....I laugh when I receive a text that says...."I got 17,000 steps today", or "I only got 12,000"...as I'm struggling to get my 10,000 a day. I was inspired when she and this friend decided they wanted to do a 10k race in Astoria, Oregon...I did it with them. 

I'm inspired by my girls who have both been pursuing their own businesses. 

My oldest runs and owns Pure Pour Coffee Cart, AND she just started selling her own beans. You can find more about her here. This girl has worked hard to design, build and create a fun experience for any event. 

My youngest owns AnaJoy Photography. I'm so proud of how far she's come and inspired by her willingness to step out of her comfort zone. You can learn more about her here. 

My heart warmed when my youngest, on her photography website, said I inspired her to get into photography because I always had a camera with me. I had a woman come into where I work and say I inspired her to let her silver hair grow out. As much as I want to be inspired by others. I also want to be an inspiration to others, however I can.

Inspiration comes

through the lives of those we meet

 who we see and hear

Inspiration comes

our own lives spilling over

into others lives

Inspiration comes

In lessons learned and books read

with an open mind

Inspiration comes

When we let it flow to us

and through us daily

Kirstin Troyer

With Joy Unquenchable,

Kirstin