Monday, August 19, 2013

Inspiration

Please answer the following prompts:  Be honest and specific:

1.  What inspires YOU?
2.  How are you staking your identity?
3.  What keeps you from finding that identity or being who you are (or do you even know who that is yet?)

33 comments:

  1. After watching Inspired Bicycles I was amazed and inspired at once. What inspires me is seeing the incredible things that people can do with their lives that are beyond the ordinary. Someone who changes the standard and changes the world inspires me. This is probably because I want to be that person. Maybe not them exactly, but to be someone that effects the world like they do. I haven't decided what I want to do or be, but as a person I've tried to always be hardworking and caring to others. In life the only obstacle I've encountered for that is myself. Sometimes I want to be lazy and not do homework or help other people, but its something that I can overcome.

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  2. What inspires me is seeing people do things that I would never think was possible. Someone or something that redefines how I think about the world. It makes me want to go out and do things that other people would think were impossible, and also create something that inspires others. At this point I think its hard for everyone to know exactly what they want their identity to be defined as. All I know is that I want to do something that makes a mark on the world, and what really holding me back from doing this is myself. We are constantly concerned about whether or not what we are doing would be accepted by our peers, and doing something crazy may shake that balance, and that can be scary. It definitely scares me. To find my identity I know I am going to have to stop caring about what others thing and start caring about how I think of myself. I don't want to look back and see a bunch of missed opportunities that I passed up because I didn't know how others would react. I want to become a person that doesn't worry about who is watching, but is concerned about how she is making herself better, and the world better.

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  4. One of the foremost entities that triggers inspiration within myself is the ability for an individual to take action regarding something that they truly have a caring for and want to make a difference.I believe that this is a very difficult task, for one must recognize that it is a problem and come to a realization that it needs to be altered. However, many feel that they alone do not have an impact, but do not realize how they build the fundamentals to an entire whole. I believe that although a task might appear to be so difficult that failure is bound to occur, with determination, faith and a true passion it can be achieved. In fact, that was the primary concept that I pulled out of the “Inspired Bicycles” clip. I could see how Danny MacAskill must have had a lot of faith in himself in order to perform those outstanding tricks, and even though they appear to be impossible, he performed them knowing he could. I am striving to stake my identity through this matter. I want to be able to have the frame of mind that anything I want to do I can if I put my mind to it. I strive to play an active role in my surroundings and having a positive impact through my words and actions. I aspire to take action when I see something that requires change, because I believe that as individuals we should all play a part no matter how small. As this is a learning experience that takes the composition of confidence overtime, I feel that at times I am holding back simply because I am afraid of failing. Fear is the foremost barrier that is preventing me from taking my thoughts into action. However, I know that fear vanishes when faith takes its spot and I aspire to unleash thoughts of negativity and darkness by bringing in light.

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  5. Inspiration comes in all sorts of ways. For me, I seek inspiration from God, but other people are also a source of this inner profoundness. Being so competitive, when other people do something better than I do, I am inspired to work harder and perform better. However, the biggest inspiration is Christ. He is my ultimate savior and inspiration. He was perfect and He is what I strive to be. Everyday, I'm trying to stake my identity by being myself. In a world where so many follow the crowd, I try to stand out. Stand for what you believe in even if you are standing alone. Everyday is a new opportunity to improve and be an example for others. The greatest leaders of all time had great self control, and thats what I strive for everyday because I believe the world is lacking this. Finally, the everyday challenges that keep me from being my true self are usually other people. Our greatest tool can be the most harmful weapon. Sometimes the people that inspire us in the end can hurt us if we don't decide to stay true to ourselfs. Nobody wants a clone, so the hardest part about identity is being unique.

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  6. Music inspires me to try hard and it motivates me to keep on going. Also my sister inspires me to be the best version of myself I can be. And the video, “Inspired by bikes” inspired me to pursue my passion, and my dreams. I don’t really know what I want to be but I know I want to be a good person. I try to be a good and helpful person. And for me being honest with myself and others is a huge part of that. I want to be someone I can be proud of. Sometimes pressure to fit in can keep me from being who I truly am. But as I get older I’ve learned to not care what other people think of me and now it’s something I can move past. Truly your opinion about yourself is the only one that matters.

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    Replies
    1. That is a good way of looking at life, John. It should not matter to anyone what everyone else thinks of them. It is just best to move on past it and do the things that you want to do in your life, and be happy with yourself.

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  7. While watching Inspired Bicycles I realized that dreams aren't as far away as they seem. As I processed this video, I thought about how music inspires me. I love how every song and every note has its own story and that dreams can become reality through music. Creating and playing music allows me to be creative and think outside the box. It pushes me to pursue what I am gifted in and work hard even when it is difficult to. But the biggest inspiration in my life, is my faith. My relationship with Christ pushes me to be a light for him and not fall under the pressure of society. I feel I am finally finding myself and learning to be my own person. I think that high school has helped shape and show what I do and don't want to become. I want to be that girl that is crazy, fun, but also can think and feel deeply. Every day I am growing into that and working hard to love and care for everyone I meet, no matter the circumstances. To inspire people to pursue what they love just like Danny MacAskill. But my current identity is under construction. It is constantly swaying with the weight of high school and what is "right" and "wrong". In the end, I have to learn that everybody will have their opinions, but I know who I want to be. That being the "cool" kid in high school doesn't guarantee any type of happiness or success. Being who I really am and who God made me to be, is where I will find my Joy.

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  8. I am inspired by those who are dedicated, the people who despite the odds or obstacles, and all that every day life throws at them, still accomplish and amaze. People like Danny MacAskill, who do what they love and seemingly defy logic, not allowing those who would scoff at the idea of what he does being possible to interfere with his path. People like my sister who work so incredibly hard seemingly without tire. People who don’t take the impossible as an answer. The question of who I am is still one that hangs heavily above my head. I hope to inspire my little kids that I teach in swim lessons that they can do anything that they try, cheesy as it may sound I truly believe that for them; that they can conquer their fears. Being a teacher, even just for swim lessons, is something I feel I can identify myself as; the rest is still the great mystery. Though I believe with all of my heart in my kids sometimes I lack that in myself. Too many times do I allow the doubt in myself to stop me from trying things or being the person I am. We’re all afraid, all scared of failing, stopping myself because of that fear of disappointing. I aspire to be that person that is wowed at. The “I can’t believe we ever doubted her”, to not only meet the expectation but to exceed it, not to stop at the possible.

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  9. Traveling is the foremost inspiration in my life. There is nothing that I dream of doing more than traveling. Travel is more then just experiencing new places, it's connecting with people; it's finding that human connection that defies the countless differences that separate two people. People from entirely different cultures and backgrounds can become one unit founded on simple humanity. Travel allows a person to forget the incongruities between individuals and see everyone as human and nothing less and nothing more. Traveling also helps me find my identity. When, I travel I develop as the person I want to be. I understand myself better as I learn to understand other people. I want to be known as person who appreciates people not as American or Iranian, Christian or Jewish, black or white, but by the strength of their character alone. Their character is their identity, and I hope that my identity embodies my actions towards others in this world. However, in this society, that true character is hidden by other attributes. Character is often shrouded by stereotypes and the superficial. Though I am not sure what kind of character I hold, I hope to let it shine, and do my best to look past the supercilious to find the character in others.

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  10. Other people succeeding and completing unimaginable and exciting feats are what inspire me to excel in many different ways. My friends inspire me to do better in school and be kind to people. In terms of being creatively inspired, music and art inspire me. Staking my identity is a hard task. Of course I don't really know who I am yet or what I want to do with my life. Trying new things benefits my self exploration. A lot of times, teachers and classes help me find out my interests. Which helps me explore and understand myself more. When my confidence is low, it is harder for me to find and be myself. Danny MacAskill has found what he loves and he practices hard to accomplish it. I hope that someday I have something that I love so much, that it drives me hard to succeed in it.

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  11. What inspires me is always changing. It can be a need to be better or an urge to beat better than the other guy. Most of the time I can’t even put it into words; it is just a feeling in the back of my head that makes me want to go out and do something. I don’t always feel it but when I see or hear certain things it is awakened. When I first say Danny Macaskill’s video “Inspired Bicycles” I wanted to go out and be the best in the world at something. That is what Macaskill did. No one had ever done or even thought about doing what he can do on a bike. But he did it; he took his inspiration, his dream, and made it a reality. His inspiration became his identity. Danny Macaskill will always be known as that guy who can do the impossible bike tricks. He is staking his identity in his biking. He loves what he is doing that much. I do not have something like that to stake my identity in. I just stake it in a bunch of little things like baseball, running, learning, and my family. This keeps me from finding out who I really am. I am unsure of my identity because I am unsure of my inspiration. I am too young to be sure of these things. I still have a lot to learn and even more to experience before I can confidently and honestly say who I am and what inspires me.

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  12. I am inspired by people who stay positive and no matter their situation. I love to see people who are always genuine and true to who they are and will push through difficulty. I am always trying to be the best person I can be no matter the circumstance. Being kind, staying positive, and making other people happy are things that are very important to me and who I am. I know this can be hard to do, and I often find myself worrying rather than staying positive. I think my mind is really what stops be from being who I want to be. But, I always keep working to be who I want to be and I accomplish doing that better everyday.

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    1. Audra,
      I think that you are absolutely right. I tend to worry lots too instead of seeing the positive in things and I deeply admire people who always see the positive side. I tend to overthink everything and that pulls me away from being my true self. I think that maybe the more we think just for ourselves and not about everything else will help us and everyone else find themselves a little bit easier.

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  13. What inspires me is seeing a person conquer a feat that they believed was not possible before and finding courage and faith in themselves to step out of their comfort zone. Also, I am inspired by knowing that the only thing holding me back from becoming as smart and strong as possible is my own self doubt, and overcoming that doubt gives me endless possibilities of what I could become and what I could to that would change this world, even if it was just one or two people. I stake my identity in my family, because they are the ones who brought me up to the person I am today. My family is the basis of my beliefs, whether it is my spiritual beliefs or moral beliefs. I know my identity for the most part but of course there is my occupation or future aspirations that I do not know about, but I know who I am and I am not willing to change it. As a high schooler, there are always times you want to fit in with the crowd and act as if you are one of them. This happens to everyone and it can destroy the confidence of someone. But it just takes courage and a little bit of foolishness to show who you really are and you may have to sacrifice a few friendships, but I found that it was worth t.

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  14. Inspiration is an influence that motivates a person to act in a new or different way. Inspiration comes in many different forms for each person, but for me it comes from other people. When I see less fortunate people than myself acting in selfless and giving ways, it inspires me to change. I think that in order to stake my identity, I have to find my true values and stick to them through thick and thin. Though I am definitely not sure who I am yet, there are many things that get in the way of finding out. Some examples consist of what other people will think and trying not to be like somebody else. While I do not know who I am completely yet, every day I find a little more of what I could be.

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  15. My biggest inspiration is other people. When a person uses their talents to do something extraordinary, or change the way we see the world, I find that inspiring. A perfect example would be Thomas Edison who failed over 1,500 times before succeeding and finally inventing the light bulb. I don’t know what I want my identity to be yet, but I do know that I want to be the type of person who inspires and helps others. I feel like the principal obstacle for someone who is trying to find their own identity is other people. It’s ironic that people can be some of biggest motivators in life, but can also be the most harmful to ones identity. I try my best to not let others determine my identity, which is hard due to all the judgmental and pessimistic people in our society. Instead of worrying about what others think, I want to be someone who makes the world a better place.

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  16. My most prominent inspirational source is other people achieving their dreams and finding happiness in all aspects of their life. Seeing others who are fulfilled and genuinely proud is evidence that it is possible and completely realistic for me to also find such happiness and accomplish my own goals. Knowing this gives me hope and fuels my motivation. I strive to discover my identity through trying new things with the purpose of someday finding my largest passion. But I also indulge in activities that I already enjoy, hoping to expand off of my existing interests. I don’t believe that people are defined by the things they do, however I do think that the activities individuals choose to participate in reflects their character. It’s difficult to search within myself and come out with a solid explanation of my identity- who I am, what I want most out of life. Instead, it is much easier to explore the world I live in and see myself in my environment and in other people. While I am inspired by people and try to understand myself better by interacting with them, other individuals are also able to hinder me from pursuing my identity. While I attempt to discover myself, there are social pressures and expectations- unspoken rules that limit my abilities and force me to already behave a certain way. Most of my identity has already been laid out for me; where I live, the way I’ve been raised by my parents, the schools I have gone to, and all of the other routine elements of my life have contributed to the person I am growing into. Things that society and my parents have already decided for me has shaped me tremendously. My friends and family have inevitably influenced my own behavior and personality, even if I didn’t intend for that to happen. Because of this, I have to wonder how much of who I am has come from within me- my innate desires, purpose, dreams- and how much has been unintentionally taken from external sources. I want to comprehend my identity better through the happiness I receive from interacting with other people and participating in activities, but I don’t want these same individuals and interests to taint my inner character, getting in the way of my independent soul search.

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  17. My inspiration comes from many things. Not only can I be inspired by people who can do things that I can only dream about but I am also inspired by myself and my competition. When I see people like Danny MacAskill and professional athletes I am inspired to work hard to be my best. I can also be inspired by my past self and my competition because that makes me push myself to be better than I used to be. Another source of inspiration I have found are the people that look up to me. From them I can push myself to stay an inspiration to them. I show who I am by the way I act and the way I show myself to others. It's hard to not let other people ruin the way I live my live. People can be the most negative and most positive sources of inspiration in the world. I try to only let the good in and keep the bad out. I don't care what other people think about me or who I am.

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  18. Personally what inspires me is other people. At first maybe they are bogged by others who say they can't, or maybe they are slowed because they can't. But the people who inspire me are those who push through and find others waiting with congratulations. I feel that to be inspired to do something, think a certain way, or be a certain person, you must first know that you will not succeed in the beginning and that failure must be an option. Once you know what you might face, and when expectations aren't too high, you can push yourself and continue to set goals. Not only do people who push the limits inspire me, but the ones who are just everyday people. Who maybe don't make a big splash or ruffle too many feathers with brand new ideas. But the ones who give back to the community or the world and who show kindness to the people around them, sometimes without recognition. Right now I don't know what my identity is and I think it will take a lot more experiences to discover it. One thing I do know is that I either want to be that silent superhero or the person who others look for for inspiration. I don't think anything is keeping me from finding my identity because I think i'm in the process of trying out a few, and seeing what fits me best. Although maybe my peers and the authority in my life keep from pushing boundaries, I know that I need to just watch and learn for a while, and hopefully I will know when to step out of the past and make a difference some how.

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  19. People are my inspiration. Watching others achieve their goals and do amazing things, like Danny MacAskill, shows me that I can too. This will always inspire me, no matter the size or importance of the goal. The concept that people can accomplish just about anything they set their mind to amazes me. At this point in time I am still figuring out who I am. I have an idea of who I want to be, but I realize that life changes and am not quite sure how to get there yet. To guide me through this, I surround myself with the people I love, my family. Also, I invest a lot of time into swimming and my team. Swimming provides me with a sense of purpose, and my team acts as a second family. It has become my home away from home. As I said earlier, I am not completely sure who I am yet. However, I am aware that my insecurities get in the way of finding myself, and I work everyday to get over that.

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  20. Inspiration is one the greatest things a person can have. It is the drive to do something, achieve your dreams, and become a better person. My inspiration comes from many things. Seeing people do things they love, and seeing them overcome any obstacles they might have come across just to get to a certain point in their lives, is amazing to me. This video certainly got me inspired. Seeing Danny MacAskill go around on his bike doing some of the most amazing tricks I've ever seen was incredible. What was even more incredible was seeing the joy that he gained just from riding around on his bicycle. At this point in my life, I am still trying to figure out who I want to be. I've always strived to become a better person, and to put a smile on other people's faces, and I will continue to do that the rest of my life. As far as having a set idea of who I am, I just simply haven't gotten to that point yet. I know that through my life I will have to overcome many obstacles and get through certain situations, but I understand that because I know that will become a key role in shaping who I become. Right now I am just going to live my life the way I think it should be lived: by surrounding myself with the people I love most, and by always looking for inspiration.

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  21. I find inspiration in failure. A strange thought to some people; how could failure bring any type of motivation or insight to anything? We see it every day, but every time it’s seen, it’s looked at as something to pity, or something to be ashamed of. But in failure, we can choose two paths; either to be weak and quit and be sorrowful, or to be resilient and keep trying. Without failure, where would be success? Sometimes peoples’ downfalls are so often, that they lose sight of their dream’s worth, but what happens when that one last try actually succeeds? Just like Danny MacAskill, in his video “Inspired Bicycles.” He had obvious struggles as he was learning new bike stunts, but with hard-work and discipline, he was finally able to bring through an amazing product. I have recently been struggling with figuring out what I want my “amazing product” and identity to be, because I have been all over the map. I dabble in all areas; whether they be on a mountain, in a classroom, on a trail, or on a track. I hope to keep failures close, and continue shaping them into what I actually want them to be some day, whatever that may turn out to be.

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  22. Oh goodness, what does inspire me? I really don't think about it much. I just am inspired. When I see someone help the old lady in that god awful flowery shirt who you can just see having a million cats at home, when I see a small child looking up at their parents with complete and utter awe, when I see someone just smile; because what they are doing is all they need and everyone else can just disappear. Every time I read my favorite book, Divergent, I am inspired to be a better person, simply because the main character is so real in their heroism. One reason this book is so relatable to me, is because Tris, the main character is still trying to figure out who she is. Through out the entire first book she is in a constant battle of whether to be brave or selfless. I am in a constant battle to find who I am, at the moment I stake my identity by doing what I love and saying what I feel when I feel it and telling it how it is in my mind. I don't really do anything specific to make me who I am. I am struggling with who I am. Just like Tris, I find I am trying to figure out whether I am erudite or selfless or brave. In this I find that society in general is a big thwarter. People want you to be just like them and do not like that you have your own sense of identity. For some people, like me, that is hard to deal with. I am a people pleaser so it is hard for me not to be too hugely molded by other people. But, I have to find myself by myself and for myself. I can't be everything everyone else wants me to be simply because it isn't who I am. I think that these people can also be helpful in inspiring me to be something. They could show me a side to their personality that I find intriguing or inspiring. Now that I think about it I find inspiration everywhere I look.

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  23. I am inspired by people who are one hundred percent sure who they are and are not afraid to show it, not matter how people view them. Regardless of my feelings towards a particular person, I must admit I find it inspiring when someone is certain. I am also inspired by people who have something happen to them and keep trying over and over at stuff. I don't really know how I would stake my identity right now considering mine is a bit underdeveloped. I hope when I do find my identity, I will be someone who is inspiring and fun to be around, and who does something worth while.

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  24. Ever since I was little, people like J.K. Rowling and Jeannette Walls have inspired me. People who are poor, have no family support at home, and have a terrible life, but they work hard and become successful despite the odds. It goes to show you that if you push yourself hard enough you can achieve anything. I think I know who I am, but events that happen in my life and people I meet can change that everyday. I know I'm a hard worker with goals I want to accomplish and high hopes for the future. Education, friends, family, and swimming play huge roles in my life and have shaped my identity and who I am today. I don't know exactly who I am, but I have a pretty good idea. My insecurities, fear if failure, and even the people I love most in my life can blind me of who I really am and what I want to be. It is moments like these, when I am blind, that I take a step back to look at the whole picture. Also, to carefully think through every decision I make and to get my priorities straight. With my inspirations and goals in mind, and my own voice guiding me, I know that my dreams may not become reality, but if I work hard to be happy, I know that I'll always be successful in my mind.

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  25. As I was reading over the first question, I started trying to figure out what it meant. Finally I came to the conclusion that it means what inspires you to be you. Many things inspire me throughout every day but one common factor that makes me be who I am is my dad. He pushes me and challenges me to be my best and to lead with courage. I constantly try to be more like him and be what he and my grandpa call an "Amen". My grandpa always says that the last name Amen is your identity because all Amen's have one thing in common. They all are leaders instead of followers. I keep pushing to be just that but while some days are very good, others are not. Self confidence is the reason for this and while some days its high, I love my life but as it drops, life becomes weary. I always do strive to be happy and not look down on others but sometimes that's hard for humans. All I want is to be a true Amen.

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  26. Inspiration is something that I find and gain everywhere within my surroundings but it mainly includes people. When someone can accomplish something truly amazing that not only shows their talents but also their passion towards it, something is ignited within myself that makes me want to go and try something for myself. It may not be the same thing they have done, it may be something that I've been wanting to do for a while but I finally have the motivation to go for it. These things shape the person that I am. Although I'm not entirely sure who that is, I want to be someone who is confident in what I do and does the things that I enjoy or want out of life. Like so many others, I want to make an impression on the world. I would like to say that I can become that person and stake that identity but Im not entirely sure how that is going to happen. The fear of being rejected or being unable to accomplish those things prevent me from finding my true identity. I worry about what the rest of society would think of me and whether or not I would be accepted. Or if I could possibly amount to the amazing people before who inspire me.

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  27. Inspiration can come from many places for different people. I get my inspiration from mainly the novels and books that I read. Then again, there are simply daily acts that can inspire someone, such as a simple act of kindness to another person, or seeing a video like "Inspired Bicycles" that makes you want to pursue your own dreams. I do not think that anyone in the early stages of high school know who they are going to be in life, and that includes me. There is your identity in school, though, but that can be blocked out by peer pressure. What you think your peers will think about you if you really showed your true self, and that is not just in school. This could be your neighbors, or the people you work with. This does not happen all that much that I see at Arapahoe, but it still happens nonetheless. What is really keeping me from finding my identity are the everyday things, such as the stress on whether or not I am writing what you asked for, or if there really was no homework in some of my other classes. Stress sometimes over powers you, but you cannot let it control who you are.

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  28. My inspiration usually comes in the form of an under privileged person finding a dream, an outlet to take them away from their struggles, and then watching their story unfold as they pursue that dream to the fullest extent. It makes me want to find something that I can identify myself by. Right now that is baseball as I have always been affiliated with baseball, but will that always be? I hope so. I hope that when people mention my name, baseball is one of the first things that comes to mind. I love the game and work hard to be the best I can be at it. If playing does not work out then I'd like to find another way to stay involved in the game.

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  29. Inspired Bicycles was really an eye opener to actually how much you need to put in to thing that you love, no matter the consequence. I am personally inspired when I see this happen, when somebody will go to any extent in order to fallow their dreams. I hope that this is how I will grow up to be, a person who lives in both the present and the future. But in order to do this, I must overcome my own and my piers thoughts and carry through my dream.

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  30. I'm inspired everyday to a very extreme level. These things that inspire me aren't specific to any type of art form or anything like that. I'm inspired by anything- athletics, art, stories, movies, people, thinking, the list goes on. But the one thing that is constant across all of these things is that they're centered around happiness. Really all I care about is happiness. When I envision myself on the last day of my life, I know that there is nothing else that matters. And I live with that attitude everyday now. What I have found to be true is that happiness comes from bringing it out in others. And that's done by being that do an infectious degree. My purpose is to have a colossal impact by creating happiness in others. I want people to realize that happiness is never a result, or that you have to sacrifice it now to get it later-- because that is just not true. Happiness is not like matter or energy, where it can't be created. It is the one thing in this whole universe that we can just think up, or chose to create it, and then it suddenly exists. It's a choice. Everybody wants happiness but they're choosing not to have it. That's my mission: to create happiness.

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  31. I am inspired by so many things in my life. Something that inspires me most is when an individual comes from a very unfair or one-sided situation and overcomes many challenges to prove their worth to the world and raise to their potential. This inspires me because I want to have the persistence to never give up on anything and to have enough self will and consciousness to be able to turn my life around and succeed in life. I present my identity through my work ethic. I always work hard for things I care about and never give up until I finish what I'm doing. I stay motivated to reach my goals no matter what the little devil on my shoulder says. Things that keep me from reaching this identity I make myself out to be are materialistic wants, my peers, self-doubt, and even my parents. All these forces contribute to the amount of effort I put towards my goal. Also my parents and peers usually bring down my motivation to reach my goals because they may say discouraging things or they might stress me out over my goals. What ever it is that stops me, I want to be that person that can fight through those opposite forces so nothing can stop me from being me.

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