Video of the Day: Visit Somewhere New!

You have a wonderful purpose

There are some people who just make you excited about life. And to them, I thank you! You have a wonderful purpose on this earth!

Song of the Day: You Raise Me Up

Sometimes, you have a bad day. And you just feel like you can't do anything. But then, you have a friend, or a family member pull you back up and help you remember why you keep pushing forward. Sometimes all it takes is someone to 'raise you up.'

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Quote of the Day: Edison

If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.
Thomas A. Edison

 You are amazing. You can do anything! We are truly capable of so much! Go out there and see!
#inspireone

Random Act of Kindness

A simple conversation is an act of kindness.

One thing I find most inspiring are random acts of kindness. I believe that deep down, everyone can sense how someone is feeling that day. And I also believe they know how to help them, but it takes a little extra effort to help them out.

There are so many stories of people who drive past a stranger changing a tire, or walk past someone who has dropped something on the ground and had the feeling they should help. It is only the ones who stop and help that make a difference.

A simple note is an act of kindness.

The truth to that feeling is that person is probably wanting someone to help them and you are the person to help. When we let those little feelings go away, we don't only give up the chance to make someone's day, we let that person who we should help go un-helped. We let them fend for themselves and pass the responsibility to help onto someone else.

Please, always help! You never know the small ripple you may start if you help someone today.

#inspireone

Go on a Hike!

Recently me and my friends went on a hike! It was just a fun thing to do to stay active. Are you inspired by exercising? Check out this video!!

Song of the Day: Life's for the Living

I heard this song the other day. It is a beautiful song about just living life. Things happen, but we go on. We can go on to do great things! Good luck with the rest of your life. #inspireone

Life's for the Living by Passenger

Well grey clouds wrapped round the town like elastic
Cars stood like toys made of Taiwanese plastic
The boy laughed at the spastic dancing around in the rain
While laundrettes cleaned clothes, high heals rub toes
Puddles splashed huddles of bus stop crows
Dressed in their suits and their boots well they all look the same

I took myself down to the cafe to find all the boys lost in books and crackling vinyl
And carved out a poem above the urinal that read
Don’t you cry for the lost
Smile for the living
Get what you need and give what you’re given
Life’s for the living so live it
Or you’re better off dead

While the evening pulled the moon out of it’s packet
Stars shone like buttons on an old man’s jacket
We needed a nail but we tacked it ’til it fell of the wall

While pigeon’s pecked trains, sparks flew like planes
The rain showed the rainbows in the oil stains
And we all had new iPhones but no one had no one to call

And I stumbled down to the stomach of the town
Where the widow takes memories to slowly drown
With a hand to the sky and a mist in her eye she said
Don’t you cry for the lost
Smile for the living
Get what you need and give what you’re given
Life’s for the living so live it
Or you’re better off dead

Well I’m sick of this town, this blind man’s forage
They take your dreams down and stick them in storage
You can have them back son when you’ve paid off your mortgage and loans
Oh hell with this place, I’ll go it my own way
I’ll stick out my thumb and I trudge down the highway
Someday someone must be going my way home

Till then I’ll make my bed from a disused car
With a mattress of leaves and a blanket of stars
And I’ll stitch the words into my heart with a needle and thread
Don’t you cry for the lost
Smile for the living
Get what you need and give what you’re given
You know life’s for the living so live it
Or you’re better off dead

Don’t you cry for the lost
Smile for the living
Get what you need and give what you’re given
Life’s for the living so live it
Or you’re better off dead

Movie of the Day: The Blind Side

If you want to make a difference do it. I find the story of Leigh Anne Tuohy and Michael Oher inspiring. Both characters in the story of life did something inspiring. Leigh Anne did what was right at the right time, helping a homeless student. And Michael overcame a hard childhood and went to college and became a professional football player. Check out the movie! It's well worth your time!

Video of the Day: 5 years to live

What would you do if you have 5 extra years to live? Watch this video and you might get inspired! #inspireone

Quote of the Day: MLK

We are not makers of history. We are made by history.Martin Luther King, Jr.

Inspiring Movie of the Day: Remember the Titans!

Today, I have felt the real love of Friendship! One of the most important messages I learned from Remember the Titans is the value of real friendship.

To have a real friend you need to get over the obvious outward characteristics and look down in the inside. To get to know someone, you have to really talk to them. So much greatness can come from just being a good friend. And I am truly grateful for mine.

RECYCLE and INSPIRE

Baby, You're a FIREWORK!

Sometimes you just need a song to pump you up!

Everyone deserves to know they are a FIREWORK!

I didn't get here by luck

Editors note: I am truly blessed for the opportunities in life I have been given. With the help of family, friends, faith, and hard work, good things have come into my life.

I used to never think of myself as an overachiever, I just thought of myself a doer. Also, by calling myself an overachiever, I thought it gave others the undesired title of underachiever, and I didn’t like that. But, I’ve come to accept the fact and admit that I am an overachiever.

How I got this way

In high school, I was involved in EVERYTHING… You think I’m joking. I am not. (Not every activity was at the same time, but most of the time I had 2-3 activities conflicting every day of my high school career. I participated in band, track, choir, drama, basketball, volleyball, church, youth group, seminary, student council, work, and family obligations. I was busy.

Then, I went to college. I started filling my schedule with classes, snowboarding, church activities, work, volleyball, adventures, exercise, practicum credit, internships, societies, clubs, and friends. Life became very busy.

How did I become this way? I don’t really know. It could be my desire to please everyone. Or not wanting to say no because I know I can help them (although my already over-scheduled schedule says otherwise). It could be the need for more responsibility or the impressive addition to my resume and portfolio. It could be the need to please others. Who knows? But I know I’m not alone in this race to the top of the success ladder.

This one's for you, you overachiever

The following words are written for those people next to me in the library at 11:15 pm on a Friday night. The ones who are working 10+ hours a week and taking 14+ credits. The ones who spend walking in-between class on their phones not texting their friends but checking their email for internship and job opportunities. The ones who would love to read books for pleasure and see movies and watch a TV show once in a while.

The following words are also written for the people who think there are perfect people in the world with perfect grades, perfect relationships, perfect hair (hah), and perfect lives. 

I am not perfect. I get acne from stress, no sleep, and eating poorly—just like every other college student. I get B’s and C’s and D’s. I eat ramen and tuna fish. I get so overwhelmed that I cry, eat, and watch a movie in bed hoping it will all be better in the morning. And you know what, it usually is. I’m not saying cry and watch a movie every night, I’m saying there are ways to overcome stressing out to the max.

How to overcome overachiever syndrome 

First realize your limit. And realize you can only handle so much. (That means taking time for you!) Give yourself a lunch break, time for breakfast, and time for dinner. Also, give yourself some time to read a book, or take a break from the day.

Second, start saying no. That’s right, say no. YOU CANNOT DO EVERYTHING! You only have enough hours in the day. You only can do so much. And if you take on more than you can chew, you will not make it.

Third, you have to make healthy sacrifices. Choose what is most important at the time and strive to do your best with whatever you choose. Everything you want in life worth having takes some sort of sacrifice.

Fourth, do the right things. Someone once told me, “People who do the right things and do it well put themselves in a position for success.” To this it means when in class, be in class; when at work, be at work; and when in conversation, be in that conversation. Devote your whole attention to what is most important at that moment.

It will take time for me to learn how to manage my time most effectively, but I know that if I work everyday at it, it will happen.

Change takes sacrifice: Lean on Me

Have you ever wanted to make a change? Have you ever wondered how much sacrifice it might take? This week's inspirational movie is Lean on Me.

It is about a school's reputation of drugs and gang violence getting completely turned around with the help of a new principal. This principal took many risks, and sacrificed certain things to make his school achieve greatness.

Have you ever thought about sacraficing something now for something better later?

Watch, and be inspired. #inspireone

Tell them how you feel.

OK, OK.

So I haven't gotten too sappy yet. But do you like someone? Maybe you should tell them. I'm not telling you to put everything out on the line. But it doesn't hurt to let the other person know how you admire them.

WATCH BELOW TO GET INSPIRED:


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Just walk beside me.

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.Albert Camus

Life, is finding a purpose. It is finding who you are, where you have been, and where you want to go. And also, who you will help along the way. A friend will help you do that. Not from behind you, not from in front of you, but beside you.

Be a friend to others. Be a friend to yourself. And let friends stand beside you.

Inspire One.

Beautiful things don't ask for attention: Walter Mitty

Be the person you want to be. That's what Walter Mitty did. He took chances.

This movie has so many amazing aspects of it. One of my favorite quotes out of the movie was, 

"Beautiful things don't ask for attention." 

Take a moment and enjoy the beautiful things.

Imagine.

What one thing in your life or in history would you change if you could?

Now watch this video.





Now, What one thing in your life or in history would you change if you could?

Imagine a world without Hate. What would be different? What friends would you still have? What pains would be forgotten?

Many times we joke, saying "hate." Throwing it around like its just a word. But it's not. Hate can cut into someone's soul. It can change a perspective into a forced reality. It lies. It deceives. And it ruins.

Don't let hate into your life. There is always something good out there.

InspireOne.

What a wonderful world!

No matter the season, our world is always beautiful!

Our inspirational music today is by Louis Armstrong. Because really, What a wonderful world?!

Find Happiness in Ourselves

It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.  -Agnes Repplier

One of life's greatest blessings is happiness. But sometimes, we get sad, we get angry, we get jealous, and we don't know how to be happy again. It is hard. But we just have to look deep in ourselves and remember the happy things in life.

We can take care of each other: Craigslist Joe

This movie was recommended to me and I was blown away! This movie puts hope in society. It shows you the simple kindness in this country. Just watch it.

How do YOU define Yourself?

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Please watch the video before reading.

Are you as speechless as I am?

I am not going to let my circumstances define me. I'm going to take action for my life. I'm going to live my life by how I want others to remember me. And no one can take that away.

Where would I be, if you didn't believe.

The song of the day is BELIEVE by Justin Bieber. 

I know what you're thinking... Justin Bieber?! Well, just listen to the lyrics:

Cause everything starts from somethingBut something would be nothingNothing if your heart didn't dream with meWhere would I be, if you didn't believe

This song reminds me of my parents. When you think about it, where would any of us be if we didn't have our parents, or our family behind us believing in us.

Remember who belives in you, and don't forget to believe in others.

Change your thoughts.

Change your thoughts and you change your world. 
Norman Vincent Peale

Lately I have been trying to actively be aware of my thoughts. I have also tried to be aware of the things happening around me and how they make me feel.

Jeremy Sherman, Ph.D. believes emotions are flexibly, meaning they can be changed. In a moment of anger, frustration, or even happiness, how often are we to consider the emotion we are feeling?

Choosing how we react to situations (emotional intelligence) is very important. It can make us more mature individuals. It can help us to have disagreements in a civilized way. Imagine what would happen if our world could have disagreements in a way that wouldn't require war? How amazing that would be!

Think about your thoughts. Think thoughts that make the world a better place. Inspire others.

Let us know what you think about InspireOne on Twitter!

10 Things To Do Before Tomorrow

I've read many things that tell you what you need to do before you die. When I see those things, I think, "Cool, I'll do them next year, or next month." But, I never get around to doing them. So, I've decided to come up with 10 things to do before TOMORROW! (Depending on when you read this, you could have up to 24 hours before tomorrow. So, let's go!

1. Say, “Thank You”

Physiologists have proven that showing gratitude is a large contributing factor to HAPPINESS!

2. Read Something Inspiring

I don’t need statistics to back this up. Just do it. I dare you.

3. Pick Up Trash 

Let the world know you care, take care of your environment.

4. Dance

Grab a partner or dance by yourself. Dancing releases endorphins!

5. Draw a picture

When was the last time you sat down and let your creative side take over? Art has been said to be a therapy for all ages. Even if you don’t consider yourself an “artist,” you don’t need talent to move a crayon on a piece of paper.

6. Meditate

People who mediate are less anxious and neurotic, more spontaneous, independent, self confident, and empathetic. Take a moment of silence and breathe in and out.

7. Write A Note to Someone

As I mentioned before, gratitude increases happiness. Also, just remembering someone who has made a difference in your life makes you feel happy too!

8. Smile

Although it may sound crazy, a study was done by Wayne State University that predicted the life expectancy of people who smiled in their pictures. Can you guess the results? (I can give you a hint, people who smiled, lived longer.)

9. Look At The Small Details Around You

Go on a walk or look out the window. What has your creator given you? Look at the lines the buildings make or the colors in the trees. Stop and admire the little things.

10. Say, “I love Yo­­u.”

The end.

_____________________________________________________________

Don't believe me? Check out these resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHv6vTKD6lg

http://healthyliving.azcentral.com/dancing-release-endorphins-5764.html

http://meditationloft.com/downloads/Research%20&%20Statistics%20on%20The%20Benefits%20of%20Meditation.pdf

http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_gutman_the_hidden_power_of_smiling.html

Have the courage to be passionate.

The movie of the day is FREEDOM WRITERS. (Suggested by Sam)

Made in 2007, it is about a new teacher who "inspires her class of at-risk students to learn tolerance, apply themselves, and pursue education beyond high school." (IMDB)

The movie profiles a few students about their hard lives being in gangs, and believe that the only way to get somewhere in life is to have power and protect their territories.

Although I could not personally relate to the problems these students had to go through, I could relate to the inspiration they felt when someone encouraged them to do something more.

What Mrs. Gruwell had in this movie was passion. She took the risk of caring about her students; more than the 6 hours she was required to. And in the end, it made all the difference.

Don't be afraid to be passionate about something. Take a chance, and see the change it will make in the world and in yourself.

Maybe love is all you need.

When you are in love, it just reminds you you're alive. 

I came across this video today. At first, it seemed a little jumbled in thought. However, it has quite a bit to say.

It makes the sappy phrase, "all you need is love," have real meaning and purpose.

Who do you love?

Don't Stop Believin'

I'm a sweaty teenager in a dark room full of strangers that I have this special connection with. Colored lights are mixing in the sky. A euphoria starts settling in. No, I'm not on drugs.

But I am on the most inspiration high of my life. At 16 year old, it was the first time, I felt inspired to make the world a better place!

During the Banquet Dance at Leadership summer camp in 2007, I started connecting the dots between who I was and who I wanted to become. And the pinnacle was during the following song:

I didn't know exactly where I was going, what I wanted to do, but I knew whatever I was going to do, I was going to jump in with 2 feet.

I think that's the whole point of this song too--whatever you do, wherever you go, Don't stop Believin' that you can be somebody in this world!

I believe in you.

#inspireone

We are a Beautiful mosaic!

“We become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams.” -- Jimmy Carter 

A few weeks ago, Coca-Cola aired a commercial during the Superbowl. The video was 1 minute of a montage of americas with the song, "America the Beautiful" sung in different languages laid over the montage. It was a beautifully made video that received quite a bit of flack from some viewers.

The question in their comments was general one: Should an american song be sung in different languages?

And the answer is, yes.

Jimmy Carter put it beautifully. We are a "beautiful mosaic."

What make's the United States of America so special is that it has so many different cultures in it. Although we may not have deepest roots of culture or tradition, we have the opportunity to create it. Where else can that be done?

Let me know your thoughts on our beautiful mosaic! Find us on twitter, @inspireonedream. 

What is your fight?

We all have trials. For Koni Dole, it's a physical trial. However, instead of letting a trial define him, he defined his life by his goals and how hard he is going to work to accomplish them.

Mountains to Climb

This is one of my favorite videos! If you, or someone you know is going through a hard time, share this with them.



I believe our Heavenly Father has a plan for us. I believe we feel sorrow only so we can feel joy. I know he loves us and will help us if we ask him.

Never judge a book by it's cover.

An article written by Mike Wise of the Washington Post caught my eye today. The story is written about Shaun White and how he "delivered the Olympic moment of his life [and yet] failed to win a medal."

To read the article, click here!

Prove them wrong.

Here is one of my favorite commercials from the Super Bowl:

After it aired, this happened:

No one is alone in the world. You can always find someone to relate to, to aspire to be, and to make their day.

My mom didn't want me to be pretty.

I grew up in a family of 10. That’s right. 10. I have a mom, a dad, 2 brothers, and 5 sisters. With many girls in my family, you may wonder how my self esteem would be if my mom didn’t want me to be “pretty.”

My childhood bathroom may have looked different then others, growing up with 6 girls in my house. It was always filled with bows, lipstick, earrings, mascara, hair clips, brushes, curling irons…etc. There was pressure from a young age instilled in me to look good.

But not on the outside.

I must confess I remember my mom saying I look pretty, but my mom never wanted me to be pretty. She wanted me to be beautiful.

Beautiful is defined as “pleasing the senses or mind aesthetically; of a very high standard; excellent.” (Oxford dictionary.)

Pretty is defined as attractive in a delicate way without being truly beautiful or handsome. (Oxford dictionary)

I hope you can see why my mother wanted me to be one of these words and not the other, because I completely agree with her.   

In a Tedx talk given by experienced model Cameron Russel, she said we—our society—defines beauty and has for centuries.

In a TedxYouth talk, Clare Stem, a high school senior concurs with Russel stating, “Beauty is dependent on one person’s perspective at one point in time.”

My mother knew this. She knew that being pretty is letting me believe in one persons (or our society’s) definition of beauty. Being ‘pretty’ is checking the mirror to make sure you look perfect because you don’t want anyone to see imperfections. She knew that teaching me to obsess over my looks and not what is on the inside would be teaching me lies

Because she knew this she taught me that inner beauty or being truly beautiful is where life begins to matter. Because when you start to see your inner beauty, you start to notice others. You truly start to see why this world is a wonderful place.

Don’t just be pretty, be beautiful. And don’t forget to tell someone they are beautiful today.

Choose Happiness

Choose to be happy everyday.

Give a compliment today!

Don't wast a moment to give someone a compliment. Make their day.

-Inspire One

Here's a little pep talk!

"This is your time. This is my time. This is our time!" 

Here is a pep talk to get you inspired! Good luck!

First Post!

Everybody starts somewhere!

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. - Colin Powell

When we make a goal in life we inherently think it will be easy to complete it. But life often get's in the way and we get distracted. Then, a few months down the road, we turn around and realize we neglected our dream. We get discouraged and decide these dreams are unachievable.

BUT WAIT.

Inspire One is here for you! We'll be your shoulder and your crutch. When you feel like you can't do it anymore, just come to us. 

Everyone has a dream and we want to help you accomplish them. 

Stay tuned for inspiration.