Inspiration

Let's talk inspiration.  Why would we do that?  Because it's what gets me through life.  It's what gets me to take a leap of faith when I wouldn't have before.  It's what makes me happy on a day to day basis.  Inspiration can come in the smallest or largest packages.  It can be obvious or it can catch you off guard.  You may or may not relate to some of these, but I hope you'll comment and let me know what you find inspiring, too.

Let's start with the obvious.  And the most recent.

The Olympics.  And more importantly, as of yesterday, the U.S. gymnastics team + Michael Phelps.  Mr. Phelps now has the most Olympic medals of any athlete. Ever.  That's amazing.  And then there was the U.S. gymnastics team who won gold yesterday.  Awesome awesome awesome.  My roommate and I were sitting in our living room just after they had won and I heard her say, "This makes me want to cry!"  To which I of course responded, "I am crying!" To which she responded, "I know, I am, too!".  It was an emotional night in our apartment.

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Music.  How many times have you been having an awful day and then you hear your favorite song and it makes you feel better instantly?

Blogs.  I mean really, let's be serious.  That's the reason I became so intrigued by the blogging world in the first place.  Everything is so darn inspiring!

Entrepreneurs.  I have no idea if entrepreneurship will fit in to my future.  But either way, I can't help but be inspired by the amazing businesses that are built from the smallest inkling of an idea in to something tangible and wonderful.  Want to see some truly awesome entrepreneurs?  Check out The Everygirl (as if you haven't already!).

Quotes.  I have far too many favorite quotes to name them all right here.  But here are a few of my current favorites.

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Every Single Page of Elle Magazine.  I hate to be bias, but I'm just going to do it anyway.  I love me some Elle Magazine.  And as I flip through the pages month by month, I am constantly thinking how I could incorporate what I find in the magazine in to my own wardrobe (on a budget, of course).

Weddings.  Yes, I am a huge sap.  My friends and family know this, so you might as well know it, too. Chick flicks?  Awesome.  Love Stories?  Awesome.  Weddings?  Only the best, most inspring, romantic things ever.

Underdogs.  Anyone who didn't come from wealth and fame and who had to make it all on their own.  They weren't supposed to make it, but they did.  And I applaud them for that.  Steve Prefontaine.  Oprah.  J.K. Rowling.  And SO many more that I can't think of right now.

Traveling.  Doesn't traveling move you?  Doesn't traveling make a profound impact on you and change you forever?  Maybe that's just me.  Either way, I absolutely adore traveling, and I feel insanely blessed to have been to the places I've been so far.  Of course there is a long list of other places I want to go, too.  But being in new places and meeting new people and experiencing new things...it just constantly inspires me to step out of my bubble and grow.

Madrid // Oaxaca // Rome // Florence

What inspires you?