Since last October I’ve been supporting a friend who is undergoing treatment for cancer. She lives alone, runs a business solo, a community venture solo and lets several rooms in her property where she lives and works. Last year when she was diagnosed with cancer her romantic partner whom she had been seeing for a year, who had initially promised to support her through her treatment, broke up with her and disappeared completely from her life leaving her devastated. They’d made many plans for their future together and this along with her cancer diagnosis broke her. Financially her business was shaky with the current economic situation, she was in danger of losing everything she’d worked so hard for over the past 20 years, nothing grand, simply financial security as she heads towards retirement. She has inspired me, with her tenaciousness, strength, and resourcefulness and most of all her will to keep on going in the face of everything thrown at her. I don’t know how she hasn’t just given up and allowed everything she’s worked for to disappear because she’s had problem after problem thrown at her all the while going through very intensive combined chemo radiotherapy five sessions a week for five weeks which was absolutely gruelling. I am full of admiration and inspired by her strength, she really is amazing. Sadly the treatment has not completely eradicated the cancer, she’s got exploratory surgery in a couple of weeks time but it’s highly likely she will need bowel removal and a stoma, and all the while keeping her business ticking away, closing down the community venture, and having essential works done to her property (taking out a bridging loan to cover that) to enable her to keep on renting out rooms to provide her with enough income to continue to pay the mortgage on what is also her home and business premises. She is one tough cookie.
Thank you, I really am in awe of her strength and resilience, I don’t know how she does it. Obviously she has days when she’s completely broken and exhausted and can’t see a way forward but then the next day she manages to pick herself up, come up with yet another solution to what look like insurmountable problems and moves forward again. But perhaps this spirit resides in us all it’s just that not everyone nows how to access it…? I saw similar with my dearest closest friend five years ago when given a terminal diagnosis of months, she didn’t crumble, she got busy and organised her life and prepared her family and friends for what was to come, she organised all of those closest to her and assigned them “jobs”, mine was food, to provide her with the best possible nutrient dense vegan foods (she had never been vegan but decided she would try that) and to teach her 17 year old son how to cook them too. Other’s had roles overseeing her medical care, others financial requirements and so on. I marvelled at her strength too. Sadly she died 10 weeks after her diagnosis but it was an absolute privilege to spend her last weeks with her and her family, I still miss her terribly but take inspiration from her too.
Thank you for sharing this story. Some brutal experiences for your friend. I will send energy thoughts you/her way. You are a true friend. Take care of you also.
Thank you Deann, she really is quite incredible, I can’t go into all the ins and outs because it’s long and it’s her story, but I honestly don’t know how she keeps picking herself up and carrying on at times. I have a lot of hope that brighter days are ahead for her.
I have multiple answers, which is usually the case because that’s how my mind works.
Poetry always inspires me. Thanks to Carol posting a link to a Richard Rohr piece that quoted a David Whyte poem, I’ve signed up for a 3-week series led by Whyte that I hope will inspire me to work on a book I’ve been incubating in my mind for a while now. (https://live.davidwhyte.com/may-2024-series)
I was recently introduced to the concepts of naikan and constructive living through references in something I read recently and got books so I can explore them more thoroughly.
Naikan is a Japanese structure for self-reflection based on thinking about a person in one’s life and asking What did I receive from this person? What did I return to this person? What troubles, worries, unhappiness did I cause this person? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naikan
Constructive living, developed by David Reynolds based on naikan and Japanese morita therapy, is the other. It’s oriented around action and appreciation, both of which appeal to me, and I’m looking forward to learning more. https://constructiveliving1.weebly.com/basics.html
A very work-related example– Last night I finished reading a wonderful book by a friend of mine, Anna Zivarts–When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency. I work in transportation policy and this book puts together so much data with the lived experience of people who need a completely multimodal system. (Very wonky of me, I know, but I’m answering the question)
I’m preparing to facilitate a workshop on centering equity for people brought together to talk about the goal of zero traffic deaths. I’ve been reading and putting concepts together as I walk or ride my bike or sit on a train. Anna’s book gave me a way in that won’t be what the participants are expecting, I think. I hope to inspire empathy and understanding.
I find many things inspiring and love this question.
Spring is my favorite season so it is very uplifting for me. The sailboat is also now in the water and ready for new adventures.
I am taking a week of in June so I look forward to that time off. My daughter also continues to be doing well in her sobriety so I remain very hopeful. My son has a new love and he is so much happier which makes me happy!
I have been pondering the meaning of ‘friendship’. It is a much deeper pool than I think I have ever imagined. Maybe friendship is the bedrock of all human relationships. Maybe friendship is the basis of our (my) conscious awareness of those about me. Maybe friendship is the Love of this unfolding. Thank you, friends!
My Clematis Vine was an inspiration to me this morning.The vine is 3 years old and is beginning to climb up my front yard light pole and it is filled with lots of buds. The first of which is opening its petals this morning. It’s blooms are so beautiful. This weekend, we’ve had storms with lots of thunder, high winds and rain but it has persevered through it all. Its tenacity is inspiring to me.
The kind comments below regarding the LGBTQ post. I actually just had a related conversation with someone about LGBTQ people, and while this person was adamant about their opinion, I was adamant about the fact that we all look up at the same sky… we are all made of LOVE from LOVE, that LOVE which I believe is God… if we were created in the image of God, we, too, are part of God, and why would God not love ALL of His creation? But also – we are human and have the option to live our life as we choose.
Those of you here inspire me! Thank you for being YOU but also for being a part of the energy that we are all connected to. I’m grateful to be here.
The vast, green, open fields that are my current view are inspiring me & soothing my soul.
A farm with its barn & silos sits out there in this emerald pasture. Birds singing & many Canadian geese squawking add more delight & awe.
Looking at this work of art makes me think of Grant Wood & his springtime paintings. This view from my windows is peaceful, centering & calming just what I need as I recover from the latest death in my circle of family & friends.
That circle is getting smaller & smaller. 🖤
Dear PKR, I hope that you will see this as it is several days since the posting. I often go back and re-read questions as folks often respond at different times and I so value everyone’s thoughts. I wanted to say that I am sorry for your recent loss. Losing friends and family makes us think of our own mortality and how the loss of this person in our lives affects us. I too am in the time of life where my losses are great and friends and family are becoming a smaller circle. Thank you for sharing your beautiful view and bringing light to those who read your thoughts. Blessings to you…may your heart recover.
“Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.”
— KATHERINE MAY
I’m inspired by the cool weather.
It’s spring, yet it doesn’t feel like it.
The shedding of my skin.
This community.
The season of life I’m currently in.
The song of the birds…this morning everyone is singing…my constant friend, the Wren, the Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Sparrows and Blue Jays. I know that there are several warblers out there as well. Today is full of sunshine and the world seems happy. Most importantly to me…is all of the people who come to this special place. There seems to be a bond amongst us- we trust and we love one another. Blessings to all on this beautiful Sunday!
I am inspired by the people around me.
Including all of you that share in this site.
I’m going for a bike ride this morning, and
that has a way of recharging me and
opening me up to inspiration.
When I think about this question, I
realize that it’s about being available to
inspiration. It’s an orientation. Yesterday
while workin, I tried to be open to signs or
coincidences and I was gifted these things
and wrote them down.
– Great blue heron
– Buddhist monks
– The song “willin”.
– 1964 Lincoln Continental
– Great horned owl
It was fun to stop and write them down
and contemplate a meaning for their
drifting into my perception.
Oh, I disagree 😁
Those cars are pure art.
So much love went into their
design. So many elements have
no practical use. They’re just
someone’s expression.
Not only do I love looking at old
cars, but this car had 12,000 original
miles on it! And it was produced
the same year I was born. 😁
Charlie, that sounds similar to my noting daily “delights” that cross my path. Birds often appear on those lists along with other things that make me tune into that moment for whatever reason.
Bike rides definitely inspire. I do some of my best work on my bike.
NBA star Kyrie Irving has played a part in inspiring me to speak my mind. I can already see a lot of myself in him. A lot of people have been offended by him. I remember him getting suspended by the NBA for at least 5 games over an anti-semetic video. I may not agree with him on everything, but I deeply respect him for standing up for his values. I feel that he’s just trying to encourage us to be able to have open discussions on anything, be able to learn from each other, and come to a middle ground.
I want to try and make a simple compost bin – watched a video of it, seems simple enough. [drilling holes in plastic bin bottom/lid, adding leaves/dirt, some water and your food scraps/coffee grinds]
Have a peaceful relaxing Sunday everyone:)
I got raised beds that have a “keyhole” in the middle: Just an opening framed by slats into which I dump things I would compost. They break down and nutrients go into the surrounding soil. Not as fast as hot composting, but sure simple! If you look up keyhole gardens there’s more to the concept and I didn’t do the whole thing. Some history here https://insteading.com/blog/keyhole-garden/.
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Since last October I’ve been supporting a friend who is undergoing treatment for cancer. She lives alone, runs a business solo, a community venture solo and lets several rooms in her property where she lives and works. Last year when she was diagnosed with cancer her romantic partner whom she had been seeing for a year, who had initially promised to support her through her treatment, broke up with her and disappeared completely from her life leaving her devastated. They’d made many plans for their future together and this along with her cancer diagnosis broke her. Financially her business was shaky with the current economic situation, she was in danger of losing everything she’d worked so hard for over the past 20 years, nothing grand, simply financial security as she heads towards retirement. She has inspired me, with her tenaciousness, strength, and resourcefulness and most of all her will to keep on going in the face of everything thrown at her. I don’t know how she hasn’t just given up and allowed everything she’s worked for to disappear because she’s had problem after problem thrown at her all the while going through very intensive combined chemo radiotherapy five sessions a week for five weeks which was absolutely gruelling. I am full of admiration and inspired by her strength, she really is amazing. Sadly the treatment has not completely eradicated the cancer, she’s got exploratory surgery in a couple of weeks time but it’s highly likely she will need bowel removal and a stoma, and all the while keeping her business ticking away, closing down the community venture, and having essential works done to her property (taking out a bridging loan to cover that) to enable her to keep on renting out rooms to provide her with enough income to continue to pay the mortgage on what is also her home and business premises. She is one tough cookie.
Glad she has a great friend and support system from you. Wishing her well and sending strength to both of you.
Thank you, I really am in awe of her strength and resilience, I don’t know how she does it. Obviously she has days when she’s completely broken and exhausted and can’t see a way forward but then the next day she manages to pick herself up, come up with yet another solution to what look like insurmountable problems and moves forward again. But perhaps this spirit resides in us all it’s just that not everyone nows how to access it…? I saw similar with my dearest closest friend five years ago when given a terminal diagnosis of months, she didn’t crumble, she got busy and organised her life and prepared her family and friends for what was to come, she organised all of those closest to her and assigned them “jobs”, mine was food, to provide her with the best possible nutrient dense vegan foods (she had never been vegan but decided she would try that) and to teach her 17 year old son how to cook them too. Other’s had roles overseeing her medical care, others financial requirements and so on. I marvelled at her strength too. Sadly she died 10 weeks after her diagnosis but it was an absolute privilege to spend her last weeks with her and her family, I still miss her terribly but take inspiration from her too.
Thank you for sharing this story. Some brutal experiences for your friend. I will send energy thoughts you/her way. You are a true friend. Take care of you also.
Thank you, she really has been through the worst of times but she has hope, a lot of hope and so do I for her.
She inspires me now too. Will say a prayer.
Thank you Deann, she really is quite incredible, I can’t go into all the ins and outs because it’s long and it’s her story, but I honestly don’t know how she keeps picking herself up and carrying on at times. I have a lot of hope that brighter days are ahead for her.
I have multiple answers, which is usually the case because that’s how my mind works.
Poetry always inspires me. Thanks to Carol posting a link to a Richard Rohr piece that quoted a David Whyte poem, I’ve signed up for a 3-week series led by Whyte that I hope will inspire me to work on a book I’ve been incubating in my mind for a while now. (https://live.davidwhyte.com/may-2024-series)
I was recently introduced to the concepts of naikan and constructive living through references in something I read recently and got books so I can explore them more thoroughly.
Naikan is a Japanese structure for self-reflection based on thinking about a person in one’s life and asking What did I receive from this person? What did I return to this person? What troubles, worries, unhappiness did I cause this person? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naikan
Constructive living, developed by David Reynolds based on naikan and Japanese morita therapy, is the other. It’s oriented around action and appreciation, both of which appeal to me, and I’m looking forward to learning more. https://constructiveliving1.weebly.com/basics.html
A very work-related example– Last night I finished reading a wonderful book by a friend of mine, Anna Zivarts–When Driving Is Not An Option: Steering Away from Car Dependency. I work in transportation policy and this book puts together so much data with the lived experience of people who need a completely multimodal system. (Very wonky of me, I know, but I’m answering the question)
I’m preparing to facilitate a workshop on centering equity for people brought together to talk about the goal of zero traffic deaths. I’ve been reading and putting concepts together as I walk or ride my bike or sit on a train. Anna’s book gave me a way in that won’t be what the participants are expecting, I think. I hope to inspire empathy and understanding.
I find many things inspiring and love this question.
Spring is my favorite season so it is very uplifting for me. The sailboat is also now in the water and ready for new adventures.
I am taking a week of in June so I look forward to that time off. My daughter also continues to be doing well in her sobriety so I remain very hopeful. My son has a new love and he is so much happier which makes me happy!
Very glad to hear your daughter is doing well! And you and your son as well.
Thank you Barb!
I have been pondering the meaning of ‘friendship’. It is a much deeper pool than I think I have ever imagined. Maybe friendship is the bedrock of all human relationships. Maybe friendship is the basis of our (my) conscious awareness of those about me. Maybe friendship is the Love of this unfolding. Thank you, friends!
My Clematis Vine was an inspiration to me this morning.The vine is 3 years old and is beginning to climb up my front yard light pole and it is filled with lots of buds. The first of which is opening its petals this morning. It’s blooms are so beautiful. This weekend, we’ve had storms with lots of thunder, high winds and rain but it has persevered through it all. Its tenacity is inspiring to me.
The kind comments below regarding the LGBTQ post. I actually just had a related conversation with someone about LGBTQ people, and while this person was adamant about their opinion, I was adamant about the fact that we all look up at the same sky… we are all made of LOVE from LOVE, that LOVE which I believe is God… if we were created in the image of God, we, too, are part of God, and why would God not love ALL of His creation? But also – we are human and have the option to live our life as we choose.
Those of you here inspire me! Thank you for being YOU but also for being a part of the energy that we are all connected to. I’m grateful to be here.
The vast, green, open fields that are my current view are inspiring me & soothing my soul.
A farm with its barn & silos sits out there in this emerald pasture. Birds singing & many Canadian geese squawking add more delight & awe.
Looking at this work of art makes me think of Grant Wood & his springtime paintings. This view from my windows is peaceful, centering & calming just what I need as I recover from the latest death in my circle of family & friends.
That circle is getting smaller & smaller. 🖤
Dear PKR, I hope that you will see this as it is several days since the posting. I often go back and re-read questions as folks often respond at different times and I so value everyone’s thoughts. I wanted to say that I am sorry for your recent loss. Losing friends and family makes us think of our own mortality and how the loss of this person in our lives affects us. I too am in the time of life where my losses are great and friends and family are becoming a smaller circle. Thank you for sharing your beautiful view and bringing light to those who read your thoughts. Blessings to you…may your heart recover.
PKR, they’re out there everywhere. It’s that time of year, and the weather’s getting warmer with longer days too.
“Life meanders like a path through the woods. We have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.”
— KATHERINE MAY
I’m inspired by the cool weather.
It’s spring, yet it doesn’t feel like it.
The shedding of my skin.
This community.
The season of life I’m currently in.
The song of the birds…this morning everyone is singing…my constant friend, the Wren, the Woodpeckers, Cardinals, Sparrows and Blue Jays. I know that there are several warblers out there as well. Today is full of sunshine and the world seems happy. Most importantly to me…is all of the people who come to this special place. There seems to be a bond amongst us- we trust and we love one another. Blessings to all on this beautiful Sunday!
I am inspired by the people around me.
Including all of you that share in this site.
I’m going for a bike ride this morning, and
that has a way of recharging me and
opening me up to inspiration.
When I think about this question, I
realize that it’s about being available to
inspiration. It’s an orientation. Yesterday
while workin, I tried to be open to signs or
coincidences and I was gifted these things
and wrote them down.
– Great blue heron
– Buddhist monks
– The song “willin”.
– 1964 Lincoln Continental
– Great horned owl
It was fun to stop and write them down
and contemplate a meaning for their
drifting into my perception.
The Great horned owl is what caught my mind. We have several who live year round in this stretch of the Alamosa River.
Charlie I know this is not very spiritual of me, but I love, love, love the 1960s Continentals.
Oh, I disagree 😁
Those cars are pure art.
So much love went into their
design. So many elements have
no practical use. They’re just
someone’s expression.
Not only do I love looking at old
cars, but this car had 12,000 original
miles on it! And it was produced
the same year I was born. 😁
Charlie, that sounds similar to my noting daily “delights” that cross my path. Birds often appear on those lists along with other things that make me tune into that moment for whatever reason.
Bike rides definitely inspire. I do some of my best work on my bike.
NBA star Kyrie Irving has played a part in inspiring me to speak my mind. I can already see a lot of myself in him. A lot of people have been offended by him. I remember him getting suspended by the NBA for at least 5 games over an anti-semetic video. I may not agree with him on everything, but I deeply respect him for standing up for his values. I feel that he’s just trying to encourage us to be able to have open discussions on anything, be able to learn from each other, and come to a middle ground.
I want to try and make a simple compost bin – watched a video of it, seems simple enough. [drilling holes in plastic bin bottom/lid, adding leaves/dirt, some water and your food scraps/coffee grinds]
Have a peaceful relaxing Sunday everyone:)
I got raised beds that have a “keyhole” in the middle: Just an opening framed by slats into which I dump things I would compost. They break down and nutrients go into the surrounding soil. Not as fast as hot composting, but sure simple! If you look up keyhole gardens there’s more to the concept and I didn’t do the whole thing. Some history here https://insteading.com/blog/keyhole-garden/.
Thank you Barb – I will take a look.
Late last night I experienced a beautiful display of a lighstorm. It really was breathtaking.
The sky at this time of year never fails to make me pause and soak it in. The blue is so intense and pure in the spring.
Daily sharings here inspire me. I am grateful for this vibrant virtual community. Namaste.🙇♀️