Who or what inspires you the most?

Who or what inspires you the most?

My inspiration comes from so many different places that it’s hard for me to pinpoint the strongest influences. I’m inspired by everything from sitting on the beach to watching my daughters diligently enjoy house flipping shows (they will watch this before cartoons on most days, they’re 10 and 8). My daughters probably inspire me the most with their genuine comradery with each other, they're ability to go all in when they play sports and their openness to loving and enjoying people unconditionally.

I’m usually inspired by different people for different reasons. Like growing up and not knowing how to swim. I always had this fear of drowning, it never occurred to me that the best way to avoid that was by learning how. I had this childhood friend and their whole family could swim, they always looked like they were having so much fun as I splashed around in the shallow end. I didn’t actually learn how to swim until I was 34, but through the years I always thought of them swimming so fearlessly and this inspired me nearly 20 years later to buck up and take some lessons.

I also have more specific inspirations like people I aspire to be like someday soon. Like Chimamanda Adiche, a great Nigeria author who is also one of the most classy and graceful women I have ever come across. Or my Sociology professor from college, Dr. Gilda Sheppard, who for me, was the epitome of a bad chick. I only wish I could be half as impactful as a sociology professor as she is. She and another professor, changed the trajectory of my life and how I viewed the world. I am eternally inspired by that, especially since I am the definition of a stubborn cookie. Lol.

I’m even inspired by people with lots of empathy who are naturally caring as it relates to others. I’m proud of and inspired by a friend of mine who is only a couple of semesters away from earning her PhD, this is a future goal of mine and it’s nice to be connected to someone who’s doing it. And lastly, I am especially inspired by people with crazy work ethic like my oldest sister and even artists like Beyonce. I want people to see me as a woman with a mission who unapologetically chased her vision and allowed it to use her in the name of the greater good.

So, who are you inspired by? Who deserves a shout out from you? Comment below. Spread the love and positive energy.

Jameelah

www.JameelahRaoof.com/my-blog