Albert Schweitzer has this great quote: “In everyone’s life, at some time our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.”
In his fabulous book “Aspire: Discovering Your Purpose through the Power of Words” author Kevin Hall talks about the concept of inspiration in one of his chapters. In it he refers to a remarkable quadriplegic named Art Berg. When Art was 21 he got into an accident and became permanently paralyzed from the neck down. After some time of darkness and feeling total helplessness, Art became inspired by the poem Invictus, written by William Ernest Henley. The last stanza reads as follows:
It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul
Art went on to do all the things he aspired to: marriage, family, author and most of all, becoming one of the most sought after and inspirational speakers in the country. He even helped the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl. One word is inscribed on that team’s super bowl ring – Invictus
Character Move: recognize that we all need inspiration from other human beings. Reach out to someone who really inspires you. Learn what they did or do, their habits to drive their purpose and contributions in life. Apply those lessons to our own where and how we can. Many of these people are just like you and me. The remarkable ones turn purpose into habit and positively impact everyone they touch. Who inspires you? Why?
Also we each can be an inspiration to others. If we resolve to leave every person who meets us better because of it, we are an inspiration. Who have you inspired? Why?
Inspiration is a two way street. We learn and get fired up from others. We pass it on to those who know us.
Most of us have a very short 90 or so years to live on this earth. Why not inspire and be inspired? Have an impact!
Inspiration in the Triangle,
Lorne