Author Topic: Where do you find inspiration?  (Read 9483 times)

Offline Truthsayer

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Where do you find inspiration?
« on: February 04, 2009, 09:13:34 PM »
When I was 14 yrs old, my first love gave me the album "Leftoverture", recorded by Kansas. It was a "leftover" album of his that he wanted to get rid of. I took it home, listened to the entire album and fell completely in love with it. The first song on side one "Carry on wayward son", I came to realize later in life, depicted the journey I would soon after find myself on. The second song on side one; "The Wall", depicts the challenges I would come to face on that journey, and what I need to do to overcome them. It's very ironic. I find much inspiration in the music of yester years and still hold on to ones dearest to me. During the past 30 years, I have lost that Leftoverture album three times, but true love always returns and it did... three times! What inspires you in your life? Is there a song, a book or mentor that inspires you or acts as a guiding influence in your life?
As God as my witness, I cannot tell a lie.  ;)

Offline misfitguy

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #1 on: February 05, 2009, 05:48:58 AM »
I think I was most influenced by Stephen Crane and his poetry. 

Think as I think,
or you are a toad;
you are abominably wicked.

I thought and said I, sir, will be a toad.

Stephen Crane

For a 14-15 year old in the early 60's this was heavy stuff. 

Later a lot of authors affected me, since I was an eclectic reader.  John Gunther's "Roosevelt in Retrospect" and his ensuing "Inside" series again for a young teenager was heady but enlightening.  I discovered mystery after college with the Carter Brown books and the first series I read was the Matt Helm spy novels.  I loved them.  I too read mysteries but still continue to read from all forms of writing as well. 

Today, I find inspiration in prayer.  The magnificence of God and the splendor of our soul.  A daily prayer I say goes like this, "I bear witness, O my God, that Thou has created me to know Thee and to worship Thee.  I testify at this moment to my powerlessness and to Thy might, to my poverty and to Thy wealth.  There is none other God but Thee.  The Help in Peril.  The Self-Subsisting."  Baha'u'llah
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Offline Truthsayer

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #2 on: February 05, 2009, 07:29:02 PM »
One of the few people I always truly admired is David Carradine. He portrays His Kung Fu character so well, one would think that he was him. I had a dream about a year ago which featured David Carradine. In this dream I was talking with him, but I wasn't addressing him as "Mr. Carradine" or "sir", I was talking to him as if I had known him for years. I was addressing him by his first name. He seemed a bit taken aback by this. I sensed his uncomfortableness and distanced myself from him. He went his way, I went mine. A few moments later, he approached me and handed me a bag with a wad of money in it, $20 bills in Canadian currency. He said; "Would you mind holding on to this for me?" I wanted him to know that I could be trusted, so I accepted the money and told him I would. There was about five or six people standing around watching this exchange. After he left again, these people were staring at me with a "hungry" look in their eyes. I grew uncomfortable with this and went in search to find Mr. Carradine. When I found him I handed the money back to him and said; "David, I think this belongs to you." He gave me the most critical, drop dead look I have ever encountered with anyone. The way he looked at me made me assume that he was accusing me of stealing his money. At this point, I awoke from the dream.

Shortly after I awoke, a thought raced through my mind. It said; "If you didn't want the responsibility, why did you accept it?"  This message hit me so hard it blew my mind! I have always had a problem with saying no to people, and I would assume responsibilities that were not my own "just because". Usually, I would regret doing it shortly after accepting it. Since I had that dream and Mr. Carradine delivered his message to me, I no longer take on responsibilities that I don't want. I have learned to say "no" when it calls for it. This wasn't about "trust", but about responsibility.
As God as my witness, I cannot tell a lie.  ;)

Offline Smokebender

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #3 on: February 07, 2009, 06:08:05 AM »
I find inspiration among the trees. Nature is all inspiring. For example standing among red wood trees will lift ones soul. 
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
A Hopi elder speaks.

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Offline Truthsayer

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #4 on: February 07, 2009, 12:26:42 PM »
If you can hear the whisper of the trees, what do they tell you?
As God as my witness, I cannot tell a lie.  ;)

Offline Smokebender

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #5 on: February 07, 2009, 12:31:54 PM »
One of the many things they "tell me" is that it's ok to just be.
« Last Edit: February 13, 2009, 03:37:27 AM by Smokebender »
The time of the lone wolf is over. Gather yourselves!
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
A Hopi elder speaks.

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/michiganbigfootgroup/  Just click it now! Then get back here right away or I'm tellin Mom.

Offline Sassafras

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #6 on: February 11, 2009, 03:33:53 PM »
Quote from: Truthsayer
What inspires you in your life? Is there a song, a book or mentor that inspires you or acts as a guiding influence in your life?


When I was growing up, I would have to say that my Aunt Jennie was my inspiration.  She was a non-smoker, non-drinker, anti-litter-bug, green freak when the term "green" wasn't even born yet, and she was the first to go to college.  So, today I am a non-smoker.  I don't drink, though, for a moment in my life I did - my aunt and other reasons lead me to my decision of not drinking.  I pay attention to litter, but I'm not a freak, and I pay attention to "green" issues and such, but I'm not going to buy a new "green" car in the near future - though if I was in the market for one, I would be considering an electric/solar powered car -  or buy only "organic" food - though, Heinz Organic Ketchup is the greatest organic item I have tried.  And, I went to college.

So, that is my story.

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Just Me

Sass


It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. ~~Baha'u'llah

The chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshiping. ~~Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come

Offline Truthsayer

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #7 on: March 05, 2009, 02:11:37 PM »
Sass, I admire people who take extra steps to help bring our planet back into its proper balance, but Could you clarify something for me? When I hear someone say they eat only 'organic' foods, what exactly do they mean?

It is my understanding from all those years of taking science in school, that 'organic' applies to any and all plants period. All that grows in the ground is 'organic'. "trees" and their leaves are organic. anything that is carbon based or breathes carbon dioxide. The grass on your front and back yards or in the neighbors pasture is the ultimate form of "organic". The roses and other flowers in your solarium or flower garden are organic. You don't need to pay 10s of dollars more to purchase what you can get free in your own back yard.

The chemicals farmers put in their soil or spray in the air may alter the growth or even mutate the plant, but it doesn't make them any less 'organic'.
if you can add some insight which can clarify this confusion I have with the 'organic generation', I would be forever grateful. It's driving me mad trying to see the difference.
As God as my witness, I cannot tell a lie.  ;)

Offline misfitguy

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #8 on: March 05, 2009, 04:47:16 PM »
Sass, I admire people who take extra steps to help bring our planet back into its proper balance, but Could you clarify something for me? When I hear someone say they eat only 'organic' foods, what exactly do they mean?

It is my understanding from all those years of taking science in school, that 'organic' applies to any and all plants period. All that grows in the ground is 'organic'. "trees" and their leaves are organic. anything that is carbon based or breathes carbon dioxide. The grass on your front and back yards or in the neighbors pasture is the ultimate form of "organic". The roses and other flowers in your solarium or flower garden are organic. You don't need to pay 10s of dollars more to purchase what you can get free in your own back yard.

The chemicals farmers put in their soil or spray in the air may alter the growth or even mutate the plant, but it doesn't make them any less 'organic'.
if you can add some insight which can clarify this confusion I have with the 'organic generation', I would be forever grateful. It's driving me mad trying to see the difference.

I know, I'm not Sass, but this is a topic that I am interested in.  You are using the word organic as if there was only one meaning.  I became interested in organic gardening in the '70's even subscribing to the Organic Gardening and Farming monthly magazine.  It fascinated me.  It simply means to not use chemicals when growing plants and animals.  By using manure, and compost and rotating and natural predators and good gardening techniques, one can raise their vegetables and flowers without introducing any chemicals or poisons.  I did it for years and it is interesting and fun. 

The problem lies in that I am not aware of any oversight with farms and their claims of organic.  I had this conversation with a produce market near Harbor Springs.  The lady said she was a certified organic farmer.  I asked who did that and she said the government.  She then didn't want to talk about it anymore.  Interestingly, there was a golf course bordering her farm that was located above it, actually, so any chemicals they used would easily have run down hill and into her gardens. 

I don't much believe in the "processed" organic produce you see in the produce section.  As far as I am aware, there is no agency that is overseeing these guys that make the claim.  Organic gardening is a healthy way of raising your vegetables and fruits as well as free ranging chickens are better than caged poultry and free ranging cattle gives better meat than feeder lot raised cattle.  Unless, though, you know how the farm actually raises their produce or animals, then the only way you will be sure of eating foods without a lot of chemicals, poisons and antibiotics being added, is to raise it yourself.
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Offline Sassafras

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2009, 05:31:51 AM »
Hello Truthsayer,

What Mick said was what I would have said.  I looked on that bottle of "Organic" Ketchup just yesterday and was irritated with the labeling of "organic" this and "organic" that, so I understand the confusion and frustration.  It's not an easy subject to explain or understand because there are so many governmental corks.  And, in the last eight years I would imagine the loops are much bigger for farmers to jump through if not entirely disappeared because of the Bush policy of less government letting the farmers judge for themselves what exactly is organic.

Nice Topic!! ((:D))  If "Organic" is something we are going to be talking more about, I can split this topic when I get back next week so we can carry on with the Inspirational topic too.

____________
Just Me

Sass
« Last Edit: March 06, 2009, 05:37:28 AM by Sassafras »


It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens. ~~Baha'u'llah

The chief idols in the desecrated temple of mankind are none other than the triple gods of Nationalism, Racialism and Communism, at whose altars governments and peoples, whether democratic or totalitarian, at peace or at war, of the East or of the West, Christian or Islamic, are, in various forms and in different degrees, now worshiping. ~~Shoghi Effendi, The Promised Day is Come

Offline Truthsayer

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Re: Where do you find inspiration?
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2009, 01:57:55 PM »
When I am feeling as if life has dealt me a blow that challenges me in all areas, and overcoming them seems hopeless, I find inspiration in my 12 year old nephew.
Born with Downs Syndrome, Dwarfed, four major heart surgeries before he was two, an inability to walk, a collapsed lung when he was 7, faithless doctors telling his parents since the time he was born, not to expect him to live, and having to be fed from a tube, that boy never lets a day go by without a smile on his face! His will to live defied all of his doctor's predictions of death before he reaches such and such an age. His parents, (my brother and his wife), have just taught him to take his first steps at the age of twelve, when he was caught in the middle of a fight at school, and had both his legs broken. They are mending now and he is learning to take steps again. What gets them through? Love. He and his parents are my inspiration.
As God as my witness, I cannot tell a lie.  ;)

 

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