Inspiration comes unexpectedly. Something causes a stir, and life – the potential of life – seems unbounded. It is limbic, not planned or purchased; raw at its origin. What we do with it is up to us.  Neil Young was once asked: how do you create a song, how do you get the idea for something? He seemed stunned by the question and quickly answered: “It’s not up to me, it’s nothing I do; it just comes when it comes and I listen – I never deny the Muse.”

Inspiration is like that. Just in the last week I’ve been (unexpectedly) inspired by Alex Honnold’s focus and meticulous preparation for his 2017 free solo of El Capitan; by videos of Ryan Hall’s marathon training back in the 90’s, and the spiritual fuel he channeled while running – God, the Logos, something was in that man’s heart and legs; and by the acerbic correspondence between Einstein and the Prussian Academy of Sciences in 1930s, with Albert deploring their support of antisemitism and the concomitant stifling of international scientific exchange – he was brave, he held his ground and he was right. And every day by the humor and hard work that my daughters and wife show every day in the face of an increasingly chaotic present and uncertain future.

Inspiration creates motivation – to be better, more creative, more loving. It is what we all want and need, our deepest desires and goals, the better parts of ourselves; the parts we want to step forward and engage. And yet this limbic rush often gives way to the prefrontal cortex, the manager, the planner, who interrupts and declaims: “Here are the reasons something can’t happen, and likely won’t happen.”

Life is series of balancing acts, and the more parts of your life you have, the more balancing you will do. Marriage, kids, job, aging all create the opportunity for – and need to – balance. Inspiration shouldn’t be ignored, but incorporated and pursued, even with the managerial overlay. Why not? The best nuggets are nestled there. Ready to be uncovered, polished, and presented for all to see.

– by MJB