Red Room Where the Writers Are

Issue/Publication: Womanwise Magazine

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It is a beyond-words experience when someone says or does something that inspires us. They lift our spirits with an infusion of hope at a difficult period in our lives. Their stories and their stellar and courageous examples inspire us to continue to wait patiently for an answer to prayer, to shift from sitting in despair to taking decisive action, to envision a different picture for our present and our future. Their stories set our hearts aflame with renewed passion for a dream we’ve been cradling, fires up our waning interest for something that has slipped down the list of our priorities.

Stories about people who are inspiring others have become popular to the point of obsession, in an age when many face a new day with no hope, no help, no will or strength to try, to hold on or carry on. The media are brimming with inspiring stories of people who fought, survived and succeeded against the odds. Most times, the people who inspire us were also inspired by someone else.

Sometimes inspiration comes in a simple format and from someone who might be oblivious to the fact that they are making an impression and an impact on another person’s mind and life.  At other times, inspiration rides in on a golden carriage of profound words and an awesome presentation from someone who captures our attention and spurs us to believe the impossible, envision a different life picture, make decisions and take action.

These are three areas where inspiration is sought, found and given.

In the day-to-day dance of life.

Right there in the midst of the hustling, bustling crowd of anxious, frustrated, tired and stressed people focused on their daily business walk people in pain, heartbroken, confused, overwhelmed, afraid and on the brink of giving up. We rush past them in haste, intent on our own daily missions. We’re too busy to see the mother with young children, walking slowly and crying; the young woman making no attempt to hide the frustration on her face, the school child in slippers instead of sneakers. We’re just too busy.

Take a moment to consider the people who live in the sphere of your daily movements. How well do you know them? Are you aware of the problems they are facing, the outstanding decisions that are causing them sleepless nights, the cause of their perpetual anxiety, their poor performance on the job and dysfunctional home life? Who are finding difficulty making ends meet and providing the little extras or even worse, the bare necessities for their families? Who is fighting the dark days of loneliness after their have lost a loved one to death, migration or divorce? Who must rise early and stay up late to care for someone who is ill? Who has what might seem like everything, but is stressed to the max and in need of a sounding board to gain a new perspective?

That doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of people who may need a sliver of inspiration in their day.

You can be their inspiration.

In special circumstances.

Something happens to someone you know intimately or casually. You may or may not be directly affected but you find yourself smack down in the middle of the situation. What do you do, what do you say to inspire him or her to trust God, hold fast, stand strong and move forward?

Even if you are shy and not used to speaking spontaneously or making overt gestures in wake of someone’s trauma, pain or grieve, surely your heart will guide you to say or do something inspiring.  Maybe you feel more comfortable writing a letter or giving a book.

You can be their inspiration.

In the broad scheme of life.

Inspirational speakers either have a natural gift or a learned skill. Most confess they would rather hide backstage and stand out front and speak. Despite this fear that they share, they are passionate about what they do. They speak from a deep desire to see people work through their difficulties and rise and triumph over adversity. Inspirational speakers come from all walks of life. Many tell stories of a life fraught with opposites - failures and successes, fear and courage, self-doubt and self-confidence, rejection and acceptance, despair and hope. And they can usually trace the thread of inspiration all the way through to their present because someone or several people inspired them along the path of their lives.

Maybe you’d make a wonderful inspirational speaker. Set aside the fear that most speakers share and take an honest look at yourself. Do you, though hesitantly at first, raise your hand to be a presenter at meetings, ceremonies or on other occasions when the audience expects an inspiring message along with the theme of the occasion? Or maybe you are more comfortable with a smaller group of people where individuals share their concern and you can pray, quote a passage from the Bible, speak a timely word of inspiration and advice on appropriate resources for specific needs.

You can be their inspiration.

The bottoms of people’s world seem to be falling out and they are slipping down in a dark place. Use your natural gift of spontaneous inspiring words and gracious gestures or well-crafted but heart-warming, genuine and passionate speech or writing to inspire people you know, people you meet and those you may have the opportunity to address in a small gathering.

Are you an inspiration?