Inspire: Middle English inspiren, from the Middle French inspirer and Latin inspirare, from in plus spirare meaning to breathe. The archaic meanings all have to do with breathing, to blow into or upon, to infuse (as life) by breathing, to inhale.
The word inspire is a close sibling to the word spirit. They are sweet sisters who love each other.
We are inspired to write or create for a multitude of reasons. We breathe words onto the page and give ideas life.
Many have inspired me in my life. My mother, father, my sister, my husband. The ocean inspires me, the wind in the trees, bird song. Lizards and crickets inspire as does my dog, Ursa. Most everything inspires, lends me its spirit and for a moment gives me words.
I am truly inspired by the fact that I started out the Challenge with 200 followers and in a mere 9 days have gained 52 more! Thanks to each of you who has taken the plunge into my words.
What inspires you?
Posts like this inspire me! I loved the explanation of the word "inspire" - so interesting.
ReplyDeleteAnd an extra 50+ followers and you're only at the "I"!! With all I've got on my plate at the moemnt I decided the A-Z challenge would be too tough, but WOW! All the hard work pays off! I wonder how many new followers you'll have by the end of the challenge!?!
Judy (South Africa)
This is lovely, Bish. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope to find inspiration before I expire.
ReplyDeleteI find inspiration EVERYWHERE, which could sound like a cop-out answer...but it's true!
ReplyDeleteMy muses inspire me and you are one of them :)
ReplyDeleteMemories of my childhood, that hazy golden time when everything seemed larger than life and still does when I look back on it.
ReplyDeleteI love the spirit/inspire heart you created! Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think any instance can inspire a writer. I keep a notebook in my purse to write down notes on every day things and instances that made me laugh.
Before your post I never thought to connect inspire with spirit. What a nice thought that is.
ReplyDeleteMany things inspire me! The starry moonlit sky, the ocean, my niephlings, my blog buddies, reading my favorite writers, flying a kite...so many different things!
ReplyDeleteYou are inspiring to me. Your words are truth and truth inspires me, too. :-)
ReplyDeleteChristopher inspires me.
Looking up at the night sky inspires me.
My farm and all of my animals (especially my horses) inspire me.
Awesome post, my friend.
Yah! I find inspiration in everyday life too. Family, friends, at work and play and travelling-so many places to be inspired with. ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat post.
ReplyDeleteMy familly
people who overcome adversity
nature
Those top my list.
great sporting achievements inspire me. Moving classical music too...
ReplyDeleteDuncan In Kuantan
You are a true word master and a beautiful teacher. Yes, your followers will grow leaps. I'm happy I found you. You inspire me.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Bish. I've followed for a long time because you inspire me . . . a lot!
ReplyDeleteThis may sound a little trite, but I find inspiration everywhere and nowhere.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I can be out going about my daily business and all of a sudden I'll be inspired by something mundane I've never noticed before. Or, I'll be alone, surrounded by silence, and inspiration suddenly comes to me.
You could almost say that I don't find inspiration, it finds me.
I love that the word is related to 'breathe'.
ReplyDeleteI love that inspire and spirit are so closely related. Thanks for teaching me something new! I, like you, am inspired by so many different things and people. Thank goodness for that. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat post, I'm inspired by many things. One being, other bloggers like you.
ReplyDeleteNancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.
My children inspire me. I'm a fellow A-Z challenger and a new follower. :)
ReplyDeleteNever thought to make that connection between inspiration and breathing. So many things inspire me. I find inspiration everywhere in my life in so many different things.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear about your increase in followers since that's partly what the A to Z Challenge is supposed to accomplish.
Lee
Tossing It Out
Twitter hashtag: #atozchallenge
I'll always think of this word differently after your post. I love the idea of finding what breathes life into my work, into me.
ReplyDeleteNature -- scenery, wildlife, weather.
ReplyDeleteSo many things inspire me. Books, other writers, nature. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteLovely post. Inspiration truly is everywhere, isn't it? Love the picture, too!
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring post! I needed to read this! I suppose different things inspire me. Tonight is was the wind bringing in the scent of flowers. There was just something so magical about that.
ReplyDeleteMusic inspires me! And being kept away from my writing tends to inspire too :D
ReplyDeleteThank you for going into the background of the word inspire and giving us new insight into what it really means. It's like a totally different word now.
ReplyDeleteAs for what inspires me: nature, beautifully-written books, and true-life stories of real people doing amazing things.
Becca @ The Bookshelf Muse
How interesting that the archaic meanings of inspire all have to do with breathing - thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteInspiration is often in the simple things, hey.
ReplyDeleteVery inspiring post! Interestingly, I started the challenge with 220 followers and gained 53 in the first 9 days--almost identical to you. I'm a member of SCBWI and will be attending a SCBWI conference this weekend. I look forward to reading your blog, and I am your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that inspire means to breathe. Each time I get an idea, it's like breathing in new life.
ReplyDelete