Who Inspires Me?
A lot of people's writings inspire me, particularly poets and songwriters (who really are the poets of the modern world). I once knew a young lady who was such a wonderful poet that she even inspired me to come up with an idea that led to an invention that led to a patent application and could well lead to a very successful new enterprise. Ah, the power of inspiration.
In reading a recent Molly Ivins opinion piece (Molly's from Austin, by the way), I came across an old lady by the name of "Granny-D" who takes inspiration to the next level. I really like her writings and sayings because she simply nails things. I guess that when you get to be 96 years old (although admittedly she isn't 100 years old, which is some people's definition of the threshold of old) you figure "to hell with the consequences -- let the truth fly." It's a similar thought to what my friend, a jazz and blues singer who often inspires me, says her daddy used to tell her: "Tell it like it is, not like it taint!"
Granny D's remarks in Wisconsin during Democracy Week are truly inspirational to me, and I hope that they are likewise to my faithful readers.
One of my faithful readers, however, may take issue to Granny's ideas and attitudes. She likes to quote Epictetus, a Greek philosopher who was very thoughtful and undoubtedly profound, but definitely not a boat rocker. Epictetus cautions people not to take on "things which are beyond the power of our will." Granny D, even through 96 years of wins and losses, ups and downs, is undeterred, and says "there are no impossible causes." I guess that she thinks that there is nothing beyond the power of her will!
Can both sentiments be true, or are they contradictory? I'll have to comtemplate that question over a glass of red wine this evening as I catch a really good jazz band at one of my favorite local restaurants.
Jerry
In reading a recent Molly Ivins opinion piece (Molly's from Austin, by the way), I came across an old lady by the name of "Granny-D" who takes inspiration to the next level. I really like her writings and sayings because she simply nails things. I guess that when you get to be 96 years old (although admittedly she isn't 100 years old, which is some people's definition of the threshold of old) you figure "to hell with the consequences -- let the truth fly." It's a similar thought to what my friend, a jazz and blues singer who often inspires me, says her daddy used to tell her: "Tell it like it is, not like it taint!"
Granny D's remarks in Wisconsin during Democracy Week are truly inspirational to me, and I hope that they are likewise to my faithful readers.
One of my faithful readers, however, may take issue to Granny's ideas and attitudes. She likes to quote Epictetus, a Greek philosopher who was very thoughtful and undoubtedly profound, but definitely not a boat rocker. Epictetus cautions people not to take on "things which are beyond the power of our will." Granny D, even through 96 years of wins and losses, ups and downs, is undeterred, and says "there are no impossible causes." I guess that she thinks that there is nothing beyond the power of her will!
Can both sentiments be true, or are they contradictory? I'll have to comtemplate that question over a glass of red wine this evening as I catch a really good jazz band at one of my favorite local restaurants.
Jerry
posted by Jerry Werner | 5:30 PM
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