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Inspiration can come from the most unexpected places. Athletic footwear slogans like Nike’s “Just Do It” or Reebok’s “Because life is not a spectator sport” line can rev up your pace on a treadmill. I’ve seen friends post images of Albert Einstein, Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King, Jr., on their screen savers to inspire creativity, kindness or the knowledge that change is always possible. Heck, my former dentist used to have a poster of a kitty dangling from a tree limb urging one to “hang in there” on his ceiling. I’m not kidding. While it might have provided comfort for some, the poster just reminded me that I was trapped with a drill in my mouth for the next hour.
Last night, I received a surprising dose of inspiration from Green Day. Yeah, the rock band that has a core following with tattoos and green hair. While three or four of their songs live on my iPod, I didn’t know much about them before the concert. My boyfriend sprung for the tickets, and it was something different to do on a Monday night. Expectations were low.
It turned out to be fantastic. Not just because much of their music was great, and the lead singer is one of the best live performers I’ve seen. What I really dug was how the band constantly pulled their fans out of the crowd to join them onstage. It didn’t matter if people couldn’t sing their way out of a paper bag, or had no rhythm. They jumped at the opportunity to interact with Green Day, get sprayed with a water hose (that luckily didn’t reach back to our seats) or be showered with confetti at the end. The high energy and spirit of inclusion was infectious. Justin and I happily shouted whatever random song lyrics we recognized and swayed with our arms in the air.
For me, the experience was a parable about life. The lesson is to just jump right in, without regard for how you are going to look to others. Scared to be the first one on the dance floor? If you start shaking your butt out there, you’re going to have fun. Hesitant to join a Zumba class because you don’t know the steps? Stand in the back where you won’t hurt anyone and just have a great time doing whatever you can.
What has inspired you to do something different lately?
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Hey Shira, Sorry we didn't run into each other last night. Grady and I were at the very back of the reserved seats, and he had the time of his life (just like the lyric to their closing song pined for).
Well, you know the wake-up call for me. It was last summer, trying something different to expand my horizons. Went to a Native American sweat lodge in North Georgia, but left before we even got started, raced to the ER with a venomous snake bite from a copperhead that I didn't see in the woods.
Since then, I've tried to be more open about life, embrace 'the now' aware that it's all we have, and focus more on what matters and less on the 'small stuff'. Some days it isn't easy, but I have little things to remind me - from the full use of my foot to a handmade necklace a little girl gave me right after I was bitten, a good luck charm she took off of her own neck as she cried, "Please don't die! Please don't die!" I don't remember her name, but I'll never forget her love and generosity.
Life opens doors for us. Glad Billie Joe and the boys opened one for you last night. They play with pure adrenaline and joy, and that's pretty darn contagious.
I actually have heard of them! I have to admit that I am one of the ones who is often embarrassed and hesitant to put myself out there.
My husband wanted to go white water rafting in Colorado when we were there for a wedding. I agreed even though I have a bum knee and I am waiting for my scheduled knee replacement. I was scared to death. This was a river with class 3, 4 and 5 rapids. Not for beginners but I was a good sport. I did it! because I could.
I do like Green Day -- I don't listen to them a bunch -- but did back in the early 90s.
I do like trying new things. I think my love affair with personal development is always inspiring to try new things, to think of things differently, to have a different perspective.
Oh, I looked at my driver license and the weight on it? I guess I need to lose 10 pounds
Life inspires me. There are so many opportunities available to us in this world. As long as I have breath in me I will continue to try things that are challenging and will likely result in an interesting story.