What inspires you?
 

What makes you jump on your feet, get antsy, or need to produce something? What makes you want to be a better man/woman?

There is so little in life that truly kills me but there are a couple:

Musical Theatre: a truly stellar mixture of music and action can capture the potential of both mediums and let loose on you. The moment I knew I wanted to be an actor, I was watching a friend perform as Cassie in A Chorus Line. The power, the grace, the expression; i was enamored. I knew that moment I was going to spend the rest of my life attempting that. To this day, when I see a great show, I walk out with my brain flying at a hundred miles an hour; I am firing on all cylinders.

Straight Theatre: see above, subtract music, and add the beauty of dialogue and chemistry. There is something incendiary about a lack of exposition, and you sitting in the audience saying "yes, yes, I'm there with you; I am yours, take me where ever you want to go". There is so little in life that incites that kind of response for me.

Dance: my exceptionally effeminate list continues with dance. Contemporary is usually the only vehicle that turns me on. There is something raw about it that really makes me feel.

Film: Sometimes, when I see a great film, I can't do anything but write. I saw the butterfly effect, not a cinematic feat by any means, and something turned on; I left the theatre, went to the dollar store and bought a pen and notebook, went to starbucks, and wrote for a few hours. It was the first time I needed something like that. But when I was a kid film always played a huge part in my life; I used to emulate everything from romance to action.

Athletics/Football: there is something about the combination of excessive skill, rhythm, strength, and endurance that makes me want to be a better man. I remember when, I think it was 2004, Brett Favre's father died; his coach, his hero, his leader. He played the most incredible game of his life. I'll never forget it. There is something about athletics that equates character.

Women: Women inspire me to be a better man. Not because I want in their pants (sometimes) or because I want to possess (sometimes). I am a romantic. Which is surprising because most people would tell you I'm a logical, experimental, original, obnoxious, etc kind of guy. But when it happens - it can be a conversation, or a look, or a touch, or them walking into the room - that fades away and I am committed to my Hughsian roots. I don't think I'll ever outgrow my need to be John Cussack circa Say Anything (see above: film) and I'm happy about that. I want someone to bring out a forgotten side of me.

Let's share, shall we?

music, men and money

Ah yes, the three M's. I encompass all three things; in fact I get PAID money to perform someone else's music.

so... how you doin'?

Depends on how much you got.

;)

Theatre was never my thing.

I think the opposite sex is a given, except for those who prefer the same kind. Sex in general, we'll say.

Inspiration in music is such a funny thing. Sometimes it's a rhythm, sometimes a melody, sometimes a lyric. The constant is that it just pops out of nowhere and demands attention. I harbour no illusions about being unique in this regard, and couldn't tell you where it comes from any more than anyone else.

When i see art (that i consider awesome), it makes me want to create. Any Tom Robbins book makes me want to create, to write, to be better. some moments of the day, when something odd happens, or i stop and appreciate the actual moment, that occasionally inspires me. mountains and strange rock formations also inspire me.

Money, money and money ...

I love it. I go to work because of it ... I stash it away because it is the stuff gods intended us to be with ... I am inspired by money and it's creations and it's complexity and it's simplicity ...

money IS the root of civilization.

Fear. Failure or a sense of mediocrity. Discipline. The need to be better than others based on stats or at least in my own head.

The need to "catch up" in life. Rage. Self-improvement. Love. The desire to connect with others in non-superficial ways.

Brotherhood. Surviving something where others have not. That weird rush when you're getting shot at by cranky locals.

Remorse and regret. The need to set things right where they were left incomplete. The desire to "pack light" in life.

mmmm....John Cusack...


*cough* Oh, right.

Funny, a few days ago, I heard the Dierks Bentley song, "Sideways." As I was jamming to it in my car (as I tend to do), I decided I SO wanted to be that girl "in the white tank top" who "came to rock." I went home and worked out for an hour.

When it comes to inspiration, it's pretty much always music for me. Occasionally, it's negative feedback, as well. "What? You don't think I'm good enough? Well, watch this, bitch..."

Sellout.

first of all, that inspired me. but reading it I realized all of those things make me who I am as well; so thank you. well put dude.

Certain people in life who just seem to have their shit together. I think, "I wanna be like that."

Kids [in general] inspire me. They make me want to be the best person I can be, because they're looking up to me. (Most of my jobs to date have involved working with kids.)

Music and art. I'm pretty sensitive to music, the more emotional the better. Sometimes it's the simplest lyrics that can get me. There are lyrics in TRANCE that can get to me.

And lastly, I totally agree with the fear of failure or mediocrity. That makes me vrooooooom.

ETA: I've done some time in musical theatre. Some of that stuff can rock your world.

What inspires you?
 

At the moment? Nothing.

Nature. Always. Nothing makes me want to produce something creative more than being out in nature. When I am watching the ocean waves, I want to draw them, to capture them, to compose haiku about them--something.

The moment I sang in four part harmony with three other people, belting our guts out, and it sounded perfect was the moment my life began.

I used to think that money was an inspiration.. then I realized that money is the by-product of inspiration put to good use.

I get inspired by films that are well done..

commercials that are well done.

music in all it's glory.. unless it's that Nickelback shit.. then I get inspired to wear earplugs.

Drugs used to be a gateway for me to put my inspiration into a viable object.. but since I'm for the most part.. *coughpotisgreatcough* clean these days.. I have to find that perfect combination of atmosphere, belonging and structure to create at my best.

I am not inspired by a fear of failure, but rather a fear of not learning from my failures. Great success is measured by how many times you've failed and persevered.

oh and Bob Marley. he inspires me..

"Easy Skankin'" certainly inspires me ;)

First, my daughter, and what a great person she's turning out to be.

This guy: Man, 72, To Compete In Barbell Competition - Irresistible Headlines News Story - KETV Omaha
Him and Lance "Frikken" Armstrong ( at least I think that's his middle name )

The feel of very heavy iron moving up and down by my efforts and desires. The sounds of the plates clanking together. I'm almost more proud of my strength, than I am for my engineering degree. My strength has actually helped out in a more real way in my life than my degree. I'm proud that I've earned both.

I'm inspired by the intelligence and eloquence of others. I'm a pretty intelligent guy, but it never seems to come out the way I want it to when I'm communicating my feelings or ideas, so people who have more of that gift inspire me. I too like theatre and art. Artists rock for the aforementioned reasons of expression.

As far as football, I'm more inspired by movies about football than the actual game. heh.

...Thespian, this thread is inspirational...good on you :)

...Freedom inspires me and my gratitude for it. Knowing that i have what i have because others selflessly paid a BIG price and i don't want to let that go to waste. I want to live my life so as to bring honor to those who made my freedoms possible.

...a Walk early every morning inspires me for the rest of the day. I make a point to notice something new and special...a newly opened flower, following the birdsong of an eastern phoebe and spotting it, noticing a couple's embrace as they head off to work for the day as i'm reminded of the love my own family shares....things like that. I allow that walk to awaken every one of my senses.

...the sky inspires me....day and night. God is an awesome creator and painter. I'm not religious or spiritual but i am a Christian and therefore have a healthy relationship with my creator....there is sooo much inspiration in the New Testament of the Bible.

...people who pick one small issue and give it their all to do their part to improve upon it. Every night, NBC world news with Brian Williams has a segment at the very end called "Making a Difference"....everyday people...i always smile and say, wow.

You need a jumpstart, buddy?

I suppose I do.

+1.

I'll find something again soon. Just not much right now.

dirigibles
animals that have been flattened
things floating in jars
tentacles
vacuums
teleportation accidents

Try the nostalgia route friend. Grab a book you enjoyed as a younger you, watch a film you thought was pretty stellar as a kid, etc.

It's a risky venture though because you might realize it sucks. But it works to get my spark plug sparkin' again.

Oh great....I needed an excuse to buy the DVD release of The Neverending Story.

Oh, hey, I read a lot of cheap fantasy novels. There's an idea too.

Will this really work?

http://images.suite101.com/195869_ca...ive_dollar.jpg

Hope I helped ...

Does it hurt to try?

You're inspired by Wilfred Laurier?

Sometimes I have difficulty figuring out where the line is between me being inspired and just being stubborn. I reckon I do both in equal measure.

Nope. Currency issues.

just got back from the farmer's market. fresh food inspires me. seeing those wonderful ingredients, the natural, non-processed, REAL food, makes me want to cook, makes me want to run a restaurant.

fresh food is what truly inspires me.

Perhaps you did. Money is an issue for me. I don't doubt for a moment I'm currently making quite a bit below what I'm worth.

No. I should receive the film I mentioned from the library within a week. I'll start there. My problem is my inspiration is low as a result of my imagination/creativity being almost all but bankrupt.

I could use more of him in my life, but he's not the be-all and end-all.

I'm not a creative person, and the only times I ever feel inspired creatively is when I'm feeling really depressed and down about myself. It makes me understand why actual artists so often revel in their misery.

My first musical was "The Wizard of Oz." It was pretty awesome.

But my life began, REALLY began, when I was a young child and my mother played the POTO tape. Sarah Brightman, going higher and higher...I was stricken.

No man, Dang' it ... it's OTTAWA, OTTAWA Martian, that's what inspires me!!!

Simple, I'll fix that for ya ...

http://blog.usa.gov/roller/govgab/re...lar%20bill.jpg

It's the reason you're in school. It has a lot to do with standard if living, and standard of living means happy happy demi-god.

Great art. Music that envelops me. A unique singing voice. Intelligent conversation with a man. A day doing something different and physically active. A good novel. A beautiful film. Surfing and the sea. Delicious food. Acting and the interaction that comes with it. A sunny day. Affection.

I have the film loaded on my iPod Touch, and I will be watching it to and from work tomorrow. After having tested it and seeing those rolling clouds again, with that amazing soundtrack smash hit, I can feel myself being inspired already! :) I think I loved this movie more than I remember.

I'm about to find out.

While I read this I got a big goofy grin on my face. I'm happy it looks promising. Revisiting things that have grabbed me in the past usually have two outcomes: it does nothing for me and I'm disappointed or I get that same feeling. And the strangest things make me that way.

A Chorus Line (random) is one; when Cassie is performing "Music and The Mirror" [None of you know what I'm talking about].

Good luck pal.

Love.

Money inspires everyone. My children inspire me to be the best parent I can be. I love music. But I am really inspired when it comes to artsy stuff photography, stained glass windows, and quilting. I know that's nerdy, but I like to quilt sometimes.

animals dressed as other animals
disembodied heads
suction cups
all-you-can-eat-buffets
bear attacks
4 shots of espresso in a little warm milk