On Inspiration — Blog It Forward
A moment in my studio.
Have you been following along with SF Girl’s Blog It Forward effort? If you are anything like me, you’ve been reading voraciously and discovering a world of beauty along the way. There are some inspiring people out there—with a lot to say and share about this amazing world of ours. There is so much beauty out there, it’s almost overwhelming. I encourage you to go check it all out. You can start with Miel and Company‘s post from yesterday and don’t forget to check out the post tomorrow on Miseducated. Because, having your mind blown is a very good thing!
On Inspiration
As I’ve read and visually marveled over what inspires others this month, what has struck me over and over is how beauty “captured,” usually in the form of a photo representing some inspiration, points to something beyond itself. It is as if the photo says, “LOOK! This is wonderful! And there is so much more of it to be found just beyond the frame!“ Those captured bits of beauty are touch-points. Stepping stones, pathways, sign-posts as we make our way in this life. They are reminders to live in the moment. To laugh and cry and feel. And be. They serve to remind us that the real inspiration is in the actual living of our moments! The photo then, is a tangible reminder, a place-holder. And it’s important not to get lost in it. Right?
Or for me, at least.
So, it’s not the pictures that inspire me, but the moments they point toward. The simple acts of kindness, charity, forgiveness, joy, grace that happen just before we snap the photo. It’s those moments when we are our best selves, when we seek to love and care and cherish. And when I look around my world, and see people acting in kindness, laughing in joy, standing with others in the misery that sometimes comes our way; when I see compassion and mercy and love, I am inspired. And I know hope. And that is inspiration enough.
Other artists who are seeking beauty and inspiration today:
You can find more of my work on Evidently, where I write regularly about my life in this small town on the edge of the world.
Beautifully written. I agree with your ideas on inspiration. I think part of the inspiration of the photographs is our imagination and where it goes with the image…
It was lovely to “meet” you and your blog is so lovely…Thank you for sharing. xo
What beautiful words remind me of HOPE.