Today is my day to post in the Blog It Forward event, so without further ado, here are the things that are most inspiring to me.

Friends and family

The people who love me and are supportive of me are the ones that keep me going. I may not always be in touch with everyone all the time, but I think about my family a lot. I have learned a lot from them and I am who I am today because of them. I wouldn’t trade any member of my family for anything and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them. I am also blessed to have a few great friends that are always looking out for me and have my best interests at heart. They inspire me to be compassionate about the lives and feelings of others.

Music

Music has always been an influence in my life. I like a little bit of every type of music, old and new, because I can relate to them all. A song can evoke such emotion and it amazing how music can draw you into the mood and change your outlook on things. Also, I am inspired by the art of lyrics in a song. I am as equally taken by the message and the poetry as I am with the music itself. It has helped me get through the toughest times in my life.

Every day life

Sometimes observing the simplest things during the course of an average day really make me think, wonder, and realize things about life in general. It could be walking in the store and seeing an elderly couple holding hands, or thinking about how things are so different nowadays than they were 100 years ago, the small things most people don’t think much about.

Tyra Banks

This woman went from supermodel, to actress, to philanthropist, to reality show host/producer, to talk show host. Whew! Some people are meant to have a list of different careers, and she has excelled in every one of them. Fierce! I really admire her success, but what inspires me the most about her is that her life mission is to encourage women and young girls to accept themselves and love who they are. With her previous T-Zone Foundation and her new B.I.O. Campaign, she helps them develop a strong self esteem which happens to be a passion of mine as well. Seeing her having helped an army of young women all over the world inspires me to try to do the same.

Magazines and Carrie Bradshaw

Most people who know me that I like writing and that magazines are my bible. Reading magazines, like Self and Glamour, give me inspiration for ideas of things I’d like to write about on my own. And speaking of writing, I have to mention a specific inspiration, the character of Carrie Bradshaw, columnist from Sex and the City. I love her thought provoking writing style on the show, which is what I try to incorporate into my own writing but not limited to sex and relationships, but about all different areas of life.

My life

While I have had many great moments and memories growing up, I’ve also had some rough times. As a child, teenager, and an adult there have been personal obstacles I’ve had to overcome, imperfections, insecurities, mistakes I’ve made, had my heart broken, broken the hearts of others. But all of these things inspire me to learn and become a better and stronger person. I try to embrace the bad and the good and use it to better myself and then to help others in similar situations. Experience is the best teacher.