Inspired

Inspiration seems to be both a recent and reoccurring theme for me at the moment.  And with the recent change in weather this new arrival of inspiration is encouraged by the increasingly light evenings, after the welcome advent of the clocks going forward, and the Easter weekend. 

Even the sun is venturing out a little more each day, and so to, do we.  On the roads the caravans are out and about in force, a sure sign that the weather has transitioned.  Gardeners are pottering in their gardens, as I have been, thrilled to be outdoors in the open air, busily planning for the season ahead. 

And suddenly it feels to me as if there is a different feel, and energy: a change of pace to our daily lives; and it’s exhilarating.  

The other day I cycled to the Post Office in the neighbouring village enjoying the glorious sunshine, catching a glimpse of lambs huddling together in nearby fields, while I breathed in the warm, sweet scent of spring and possibly even summer.   On my return home, feeling inspired, I cut the grass in the back garden for the first time this year.  Still choosing to veer in random designs across the lawn, still unable to commit to mowing in vertical stripes, which Steve continually suggests, advising it is more practical.

So it's true, some things will never change.

Today, for the first time, I am sat in the garden with my laptop upon the table beneath the wide, burgundy umbrella, writing my blog.  The sun is scorching hot upon my back.  Fidget is out and about playing in the garden, returning to visit me every now and then from his hunt in the adjacent field; while the daffodils in bloom stand tall and proud, and the wafting aroma of freshly cut grass tickles my senses; reminding me that it feels fantastic to simply be alive.

Easter is always a time of year that instils a sense of hope in me, as it does many others.  This year that hope has seemingly arrived with a companion: inspiration.

And so I find myself creating writing plans and goals for the months ahead, bursting with this newly discovered inspiration and hope; feeling hopeful about this new wave of inspiration, wherever it may lead.

Last week, further inspiration arrived while watching the disappointingly brief (I would have happily watched every minute of every marathon he ran) television programme, ‘Eddie Izzard: Marathon Man’ and in truth I have never felt so inspired by a programme, and by someone so unexpected, that left me wanting to push and challenge myself. 

Watching Eddie Izzard, a comedian and actor not a sportsman, push himself beyond belief and with limited training to run 43 consecutive marathons was both shocking and empowering.  As I watched the hour long programme I cried; I willed him forward with each step when he struggled; I cheered him on; I felt tremendous awe at his achievements, and at the conclusion I donated money to Sports Relief. 

Afterwards what remained, I discovered, was the absolute belief that nothing, nothing in life is impossible. 

Because it was sheer strength of character and will power that got Eddie Izzard, against the odds, to the finishing line, well that along with his unbreakable determination and belief that: ‘I will finish, by hook or by crook, I Will Finish.’

So now when I am on the treadmill and having one of those days when I’m tired and my muscles are tight and I just want to give in, I am reminded of Eddie Izzard and what he achieved.  And what can be achieved.  So I resolve my will power, push myself harder and I finish.

Inspiration has taken a hold of me, transcending my beliefs, leaving me feeling that anything is possible, and so I have finally begun work on my next big writing project, which I’ve been planning these past few months and which I have anxiously avoided. 

It’s in the beginning stages, and it’s nerve racking and exciting.  Maybe it will end up beside ‘Unravelled’ in the rejection drawer, but now I am reminded and know once more that it is worth fighting for.  It is worth pouring every ounce of my passion to write, in to, because everything we want in life is sat there waiting for us to grasp hold of, if only we were willing to try. 

In this Meditation CD’s, Hypnotherapist, Paul McKenna asks the question: ‘What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail?’

My answer usually is: ‘so much more than I’m doing right now.’

Fear of failure prevents us from being bold, from trusting that we can 'be and do' anything that we want to: to make our dreams become a reality.

Steve is at the beginning stages of a new project that has major potential to be a success, and so with every spare hour he’s working, pushing forward, and challenging himself to follow his dreams.  While I deliver mugs of tea, warm slices of cake, listening to him mumble solutions while he strives to fix each problem that arises. 

And just as Eddie Izzard has done, Steve inspires me too.

So it is time for me, in this season of hope, sunshine, and inspiration, to begin to strive towards achieving my own goals and dreams.  To begin to believe that my future lie in my hands alone, and that if I would only have hope and faith, and the strength of will to trust that anything is possible: then anything is possible.

“All Our Dreams Can Come True, If We Have The Courage To Pursue Them”

                                                          Walt Disney