a force or influence

A week ago I was inspired to write a post about inspiration. I jotted down some ideas and saved the post as a draft. Now that it is time to flush out my ideas…I am completely uninspired.

A total and complete “meh” on the subject.

Inspiration does not come to those who wait for it. It is a gift that arrives while you are in the middle of working for it. So, I’m just going to keep writing and perhaps inspiration will find its way to me…

I pause and think back to when I was a kid. My mom ran a daycare and summer was a time of incredibly inspired play. Mom did not allow us to sit and watch television. We were sent outside. My parents did not provide ready-made toys…we had to “build” our own. My dad’s wood scraps became doll houses, ships in the ocean of grass or even a make-shift restaurant…where we would play “kitchen staff”. (“kitchen staff”??? I have no idea where we came up with that idea!!)  We would get excited about something said… “OH YEAH… let’s do THAT!” Annnnddddd, we were off and running. The play would go on and on… we lost track of time and space and, THEN inspiration would hit… now we are pirates in the mulberry tree… or fishermen falling out of our boats on the grass-sea…or grossing each other out with our earth-worm pies in our restaurant.

A force, influence…stimulation. While actively playing we would be inspired to change the play a bit and do something new.

Inspiration seeks those who are stirred up. The artist goes into action. “Action” is key for inspiration… Movement and doing something (playing!) is a powerful beckoning. A statement to the muses that “I am ready for you…”

Sit down and write – even if it sucks. Go out and run – even if you are walking most of the time. Cut out the shape even if you are clueless as to what comes next. Put the paint on the canvas. Line up the beads. Fire up the torch!

Do something. Anything.

Inspiration is a powerful muse that desires action.

Inspiration (n.)  from Late Latin inspirationem (nominative inspiratio), noun of action from past participle stem of Latin inspirare “blow into, breathe upon,” figuratively “inspire, excite, inflame,” from in- “in” + spirare “to breathe”