Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group What Inspires You?

I'm in the process of starting a sort of imaginary "altar" of images that inspire me, specifically, inspire me in the face of this pre-AS/AS. There are the core inspirations of my family, including my dog. My work. Nature. Things I love doing, such as reading outside and listening to the bees in the flowers. But also, a quirky collection of images keeps growing, and I thought I'd perhaps start this post and maybe you could add your own? And maybe we could inspire each other and make each other smile, too!
Ok, here it goes:

1) I just saw the movie I, Robot, and was inspired when the character played by Will Smith wakes up, in pain, as usual, and just begins to do his arm exercises, then later soaks his sore arm and shoulder in a shoulder. Something about the way he just tried to deal with it inspired me.
2) Horse Boy by Rupert Isaacson, a memoir about how a dad helps his son who has autism. Both the parents' love for their son and the horses' caring attitude toward the little boy reminded me how strong love is, how strong our spirits are.

That's just two recent ones, but I'm going to keep on thinking about these positive images that inspire me, and keep on looking out for more!

Jan

Last December just before this AS thing knocked me down I finaly caught a big mountain lion that I have been after for three years. He lives by the desert here so there is never much snow, which as Barngoddess knows helps a lot. It was cold and the air was crisp. I turned sugar and two other hounds loose and it was suprisingly easy, They caught him in 30 minutes. I walked into the tree and he was calmly stretched out on a limb looking down at Sugar as she was barking treed. I can't help but believe as he was looking at her that he was thinking, I have heard you for the last three years trying to find me so here you go I will give you your shot at success.

I walked up to the tree and snapped the dogs up, as I went to leave I looked up at the lion. The penetrating gaze from his yellow eys looked right into my soul. It is something that always stirs me, always has. In 29 years I have seen and felt their gaze on me many times, when you look into their eyes it is always there always intense and deeply stirring. They are a magnificent animal.

As we walked away he calmly slipped out of the tree, paused for a moment and walked off. Sugar died two days later, I think those three days were meant to be.

all kinds of things, as you said. something new all the time. for me, inspiration is all around me.

the most recent: watched 20/20 medical mysteries last night. some really inspirational people. while the people with the medical challenges were inspiring, what i found even more inspiring were the people that stayed by their side, never stopped believing in them, whether it was spouses, parents, friends. i told my husband tonight that i think the reason the loved ones impress me even more is that those of us with a chronic illness have no choice, we have to find a way to live with it, but loved ones do have a choice, and they choose to stick by us. i find that particularly inspiring.

Oh, wow...I can just see it: the desert, your hounds, the lion, his eyes...thank you for sharing this story that will stay with me.
My deepest condolences about Sugar.
Jan

well said sue!!

I love I Robot. Will Smith is a great actor. Bridget Moynahan definitely helps too! LOL! I try to draw inspiration from some of our ancestors. How tough were our caveman ancestors who lived in ice age Europe? It was well below zero for their whole lives. They lived in a cave with a fire for heat. They had to make their own clothes and tackle their dinner. I try to tell myself "Would my ancestor let a sore shoulder, knee or wrist keep him from hunting?" Nope. He would push on and find a way because he has no other choice.

Great question!

Craig

The things that inspire me are the memorys of my father and the long fight he had against Cancer and how he worked up till the day he died to support his family.Sadly dieing at the age of 52 when I was only 7.And my sister again who battled against Cancer and never complaind despite all her suffering right up till she died at the age of 53 and who I deeply miss.
The others who enspire me are the people on KA like Brad, James, Alan and all the others who have been through so much and yet still come on here and try to help and advise every one.I admire John the Dragon although I dont accept the diet I respect the way he belives in it and the determination with which he promotes it. All the people on here who have real grit to carry on despite pain and suffering. especially the people with severe deformity who battle on despite the crap they get from people who just think they are someone to laugh at and make nasty comments about.I am inspired by you all. And pleased to say I know you and can call you freinds
Kevin

I'm so moved by all of your comments. You are providing more inspiration for me. Stories about family members battling illness, images of our ancestors struggling on, heart lifting accounts on t.v. and more. Thank you for these inspiring ideas.
When I was first diagnosed with uveitis and lost just about all of my vision in my left eye, I watched the movie (with my right eye lol) The Village in which the girl who is blind is such a hero. She is so afraid but she just does what she needs to do. Even though it is a completely fictional film there was something inspiring in that character that I just kind of mentally filed away to give me courage.
YOU inspire me!
Jan

Jan this is a really good question you should have put it on the main forum would have got a much better responce.
Kevin

Good idea, Kevin! I wonder if there is any way to transfer this discussion over there, I've no clue!
Jan