Inspiration is Everywhere

I like sharing to my Instagram stories. 

I have some regular stories, like selfies after a run or dinners that turned out great.  I would sometimes wonder if people get bored of seeing some of the same ol' stories.  Do they really care at all that I went for a run or made a new pasta dish?

I decided to change that thinking, after receiving certain responses and comments (engagement) from my stories.  I posted a picture one evening of an easy sheet pan dinner.  That's it, just the picture.  I can't remember any captions but I didn't include anything helpful, like the recipe, oven temperature, cooking time, or substitution ideas.  My cousin, who would probably appreciate an easy one-pan meal to feed her family, messaged me to ask about more details.  She didn't have the asparagus that I had used but had Brussels sprouts. I told her that's what the recipe actually called for but I only had asparagus.  As we were having this exchange, I realized that what might seem boring and the usual, might actually inspire someone and help them out, even if just for the evening to get dinner on the table. 

A couple weeks later, I shared that I registered for a Mother's Day (virtual) race.  Its pretty known that I often register for and run races but this one inspired one of my former co-workers in Michigan to register for it too.  Maybe she had been thinking about a 5k for a while and when she saw my story, it motivated her to take the steps to do it.  Or maybe it just sounded like a fun thing to do to honor her Mom, get some exercise, and get another 5k accomplished.  Either way, it prompted her to think about it, take action, and complete this 5K, which was awesome!

You never know who might be looking for inspiration to make a fancy coffee drink at home, invest in new workout clothes, or take a road trip for the day.  If you are doing something that excites you, chances are you have the opportunity to inspire someone else. 

Talk about something interesting.  Share something fun.  Post something beautiful.  Inspire!  And on the flip side, we should all keep our minds open to be inspired and learn too.