What inspires you?

This posting is much different from my usual postings.  As I continue to get healthy/get fit (ha!) I have realised that this will ultimately lead to my overall self improvement.  Self improvement encompasses not only becoming fit and healthy but improving one's self mentally, financially, economically, spiritually (all the -allys really).  There are several situations that you will find yourself contemplating such thoughts.
 
I had these thoughts at a funeral I recently attended.  You find yourself thinking all manners of things - choices made in terms of being wrong or right, actions taken, the life you have led thus far, the list seems endless.   These thoughts flowed across my mind while I sat in congregation of a thanksgiving service for a family friend, Patrick Kiplyn Williams.  As I listened to his life story I couldn't help but wonder about my life story (thus far).  The words stoic, witty, astute, gentle giant, confidante were used to describe my family friend.  Numerous tributes from his family, friends and peers were given.  This showed me that despite his short years he indeed made his mark.  I couldn't help my tears as I heard such positivity of one's life and ending of it all.  I sat and thought that the crosses people dem live forever and the good ones go so early. Hmmmmm sigh..................
 
The pastor for the service also spoke highly of Patrick.  He continued with his spoken word and sought to remind us all of having an "appointment" with death.  Even with this "appointment" looming he encouraged us to live our lives.  I thought about this so much and linked it to my get fit/get healthy journey and realise how much emphasis is placed on what others think or say about us (me).  We (me included) get caught up with worry and wonder about what people's perception of our lives, our actions, our decisions.  It is not possible to "live" your life if you spend your precious time considering the thoughts of others.

I started to really wonder about my decision to get fit & healthy a permanent lifestyle.  Was I doing this for me? Or was I hung up on how persons viewed my appearance and/or my weight (gain)? Was I doing this for vain and shallow reasons?   I realised that my initial times at trying to get healthy, be fit and look fit & fab were based on other people’s opinion and I think I gained  and lost weight time after time as I wasn’t doing what I needed to do for the right reasons.   This time I am!  I am doing this journey for me.  I am not on anyone’s timetable but my own.  I wonder now about who I will inspire to go on a similar journey - a journey of self discovery.  Live your life in a manner which inspire others to be or rather become their better selves.
 

One of the tributes given alluded to the time spent between one’s life (the date of your birth) and death (the date of your “appointment”) as a dash.  The dash in between the two dates is the sum total of our lives – let us make that dash count.

 

D – Dare to be different; take a stand for injustices; walk in integrity

A – Answer the call both to God and humanity. Do all you can while you can for all you can

S – Support each other – drop in on a neighbour or a friend; visit the sick or shut in

H – Have a sense of humour. Laugh at yourself and with others more often. Don’t take life so serious.

Patrick, walk good......

 


Thanks for your words, Marci!  Cheers……