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who inspires you?

startingnew
Community Member

so at some point in our lives we are inspired by someone.

who is it that your inspired to and why?

42 Replies 42

All the people who fought for women's right to vote.

I feel lucky to have been born in a time (and place) where I can vote, receive an education, access birth control, not have to give up my job if I got married, not have limited career options purely for being female, etc.

An elderly lady once started talking to me randomly about how back in "her day", women had 3 occupational choices, nurse, teacher or...I forget the 3rd one...so let's just say some of my friends probably wouldn't be studying law or engineering if they had been born at a different time.

We still have a long way to go but I'm grateful for the people who made enormous sacrifices in the past for not just themselves but for future generations- like myself- to have the things that they didn't have.

That is, choice and rights. And you can't put a price on those things.

Dottie x

Hey everyone;

Btw Dottie, that 3rd choice was 'secretary' now named PA; personal assistant. I chose nursing! HA! I hated it but it did lead me towards my eventual career.

I've been inspired this morning, (5am and 6 degree's ahh..) by Startingnew! I was really impressed by how beautifully she supported a young girl of 14 yesterday. Taking time to do this while still going thru her own stuff shows courage, caring and empathy; that's what this community's all about.

I've been following your story SN as you know; reading your post to MM made me feel proud as punch. A lovely response to help another young person find her way. I always knew you had it in you! Well done!

Sara x

Awww Sara i dont know what to say!!

I love helping where i can

You inspire me Sara. Your truely are amazing and your a great support!

MarkJT
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member
All of those people fighting for marriage equality, you inspire me to get working hard on breaking the stigma associated with mental health.

Guest_322
Community Member

Great thread, startingnew!

Also, I've enjoyed reading about everyone's inspirations 😊

Sara, thanks for helping me out with the 3rd option!

Ah, nursing certainly doesn't sound like it was the right fit for you. Although I'm glad, in a way, things worked out in the end.

Can't help asking if you had been given more choice, what career path do you think you would have chosen?

Dottie xxx

P.S. I forgot to say there's absolutely nothing intrinsically wrong with the 3 career options that I mentioned earlier. But I guess the point was/is having the right to choose rather than what the specific careers happened to be.

Firstly; to SN...I never had anyone to encourage me growing up. To be able to inspire you to find that same inspiration within yourself means so much to me. I believe in you! You're doing spectacularly!

Hey Dottie;

Your question to me is a hard one. Remembering who I was back then, I didn't think I had a choice. I did what was presented to me, an opportunity to get a job then followed my nose.

In hindsight of course, things are different. I would've been a stay at home mum studying until my kids were grown. Uni was free back then, so maybe a masters in neuro-psychology would've been top of my list, then a doctorate in research. If I'd believed in myself then as I do now, the sky would've been the limit.

I think we're inspired by others, either past or present, which may encourage us to 'act'. But how many actually do? I truly believe the positive we see in people, is intrinsically within ourselves. Bringing that out into the open then inspires others; and so on it goes - paying it forward.

Famous events/people often get the acknowledgment. But there are many who inspire who aren't in the limelight. Look at ourselves for instance; by me surviving my life, then being on here while I'm still recovering to help members, I'm a living example of triumph over adversity. People may or may not be inspired by that, it's up to them.

Speaking of hindsight; I wouldn't have it any other way!

Stay amaze!

Sara x

i do think that Sara (heart)

and it means so much to me that people actually care

Hi Sara (shoutout to startingnew),

Thanks for giving my question a shot. I can sort of see you working in neuropsych research. Think it would have suited you.

Yeah, that's a good point. It's relatively easy to feel inspired by others but acting and changing one's course is a different story.

I agree that there are 2 sides of the coin that can inspire us: both the famous and everyday people can affect others' lives for the better. Both can play an important role.

You have clearly overcome many adversities in your life. Survived and lived to tell the tale many times over. And it looks like startingnew is one of the many who find you inspiring! You have certainly left a mark here on BB.

I'm glad you wouldn't have it any other way. In saying that, I think that my comment was about choice and not so much about hindsight. Anyway, it doesn't matter...I'm glad things worked out for you 😊

Dottie xxx

kanga_brumby
Blue Voices Member
Blue Voices Member

For me it's not just one person but it's an entire group of people. It's the members of the D.D.F. the job they do is fantastic.

Kanga bounce

P.S. Also the members of the rural fire service. Unsung heroes the lot of them.

Ok D-Girl...a short response.

Choice; without recognising/acknowledging options and opportunities, do we have choice?

There was a boy in my high school that used to stop on the stair landing until I passed by between classes. He'd smile and say "Hi". I'd reciprocate not thinking twice about it. This went on for months.

The thing is, he had a crush on me; an opportunity for me was there; for him too. He was too scared to ask me out and I didn't think anyone that smart or good looking would ever have anything to do with me. We never dated.

Now I know this isn't about career paths, but to have choice, one must feel worthy. If we don't, we can't see the forest for the tree's and our choices/options are limited. Therefore, I chose a 'job' that paid and I felt I could do, it wasn't about what was right for 'me'. I mean, I would've had to 'know' me wouldn't I? These days girls are told they can do anything, but unless they know themselves and feel worthy, is it really a choice?

Does this answer you question?

Hope so...

Sara x