A Pinoy Biker’s Philippine Rural Adventures

We all have our dreams and desires. And for each one, we are presented with options that lead to different paths. And with each option we come to a crossroad where we commit ourselves by turning to one direction. For each direction we take, we bear both the happiness of knowing we did the right thing, or the burden of knowing that we took the wrong turn.

Within all these considerations, I can see behind each of them the presence of an inspiration. For each thing we do, there is bound to be an inspiration. Our dreams and desires are borne out of inspired actions we see in the people we idolize. The option we take is a direct result of an inspired decision based on perhaps the faith we hold, or the experiences we have had in the past. The direction we choose still bears the inspiration we took from those that have preceded us before along the same path.

Thus, I see inspiration as a big word, perhaps even unfathomable in its truest sense. It has so many shades that I could not see what color of inspiration is being given to me now as I write this post.

The Bible for example, is said to be “inspired text” written by multiple authors “inspired by the Holy Spirit”. A champion athlete can inspire other struggling and wannabe athletes in their quest for gold and glory. A writer becomes inspired by his muses and proceeds to write a masterpiece. A sculptor finds inspiration in nature, as he coax form out of a piece of petrified wood. I was inspired to bike to work because of the examples I saw from others who, in spite of their well to do status, meaning they have cars and all, they still preferred to use the bike to move around our city. I also take my hat off to their professed love for the environment and the efforts they do to prove it.

People inspire people. Events can inspire people to act. A poem, the color of sunset, music from a favorite composer…. silence… the song of a bird…all these plus a gazillion more provide inspiration. For this reason, I say, inspiration is a big word.

But now I have to write about inspiration and seven people that have inspired me. I have to take the plunge and confront this big “I” word. Ivy, from whom this tag came and one who has inspired others in her own way, says I inspire her too. In what way, only she could tell you for sure.

Here, I list seven (five for now, will add later) of those who have inspired me, and in what way, without naming them explicitly:

1. Deep within her heart lies the generosity to partake with others the blessings she has received. She inspires me to take each day as it comes and welcome life’s challenges instead of cowering in fear of the unknown.

2. His faith is expressed in the life he is living now. He inspires me to have my faith as my badge in facing whatever life has to offer.

3. He has courage to continue what he loves most. His grand dreams inspire me to ask myself about what I have done in the past and how I could correct past mistakes and look courageously to the future too.

4. I once called her “nene”, a little girl, because she seemed one to me, but her experiences in life tells me she is no little girl when it comes to making decisions and sticking with it, no matter what. She inspires me to believe that I can do things if I set my mind into accomplishing them.

5. Ever since I became conscious of my being an adult, I have looked at the youth as an inspiration. This one’s youthful energy inspires me to forget my age and get on with it. Yeah baby…

And here are the people who inspire me, in random order:
Vera
Dom Lawrence
Parisukat
BluePanjeet
Becca