You reach a point in your life when you think to yourself…”Self, there has to be more to life than this.” One thing is certain, there is a beginning and end. But, it’s what you do in between those two points that really makes life worth living. I truly want to make an impact in the world. Although, I will be thrilled with just my local yokels…I believe I am reaching further than that. My plan to rule the world is working….muwahahahahahahahaha (evil laugh if you needed explanation). Just kidding, nothing evil about this. This is pure inspiration for others and mainly myself. It was time for me to find a passion, a purpose, an appreciation.
I believe that each and every one of us should strive to make an impact in one individuals life a day. There’s no reason we can’t. It can be as simple as a kind word, a kind gesture (I said kind), or a simple “I thought about you today” gift. What’s stopping you? Absolutely, positively nothing at all.
First, a little history on my blogging experience…there is none! I never liked to read people’s blogs, never had a desire to, and never even thought about it. But, one day, I read a friend of mine’s blog, and I was inspired. She writes about things that happen to her in her own life, inspirational thoughts, and has great hostess and party ideas…not to mention, some great recipes ideas as well! You can find her here… www.peppermintpretty.typepad.com
Secondly, I had my blog up for a month and decided to nose around at some other blogs. Yes, this sounds bad when I say “nose”, but I truly was wanting to find out what others were writing about. Fortunately for me, I ran across another Southern Food Blogger very randomly. He writes the most descriptive stories filled with tons of wit. He writes about Southern experiences and inspiration, has some great recipe ideas, and never ceases to make your mouth water when he’s talking about some of the food (especially the sweets he recently blogged about). He has been extremely helpful in my journey, and you must check him out! Find him here… www.holypoachedegg.wordpress.com
Lastly, just for now…because I am sure reasons will continue to be added with the one constant of inspiring others…there is that one constant…I received notice that a friend had posted on my wall through Facebook recently. I pulled it up, and this is what I found… “I have been reading your posts about the website and today I decided to go and look around. I think it is wonderful!!! What you are doing makes me almost want to cry. My great-grandmother was a wonderful cook and i have many memories with her in the kitchen, my love for cooking comes from that. Reading you talk about Maw Maw’s soup makes me Thank God for time that my Mama Gladys was a part of my life.” This is what it is all about folks. Bringing people to life through their own personal memories and…FOOD!
As cliché as it might sound…food really does bring people together. It has a strange power over us. Smells, tastes, textures of food all have the power to jog our memories and inspire us. This, and all the above, are why I do this…
So, go out there today!!! Inspire someone…or at least make the first step towards it!!! Or how about this??? Change your own life…make yourself happy…inspire yourself…you’re worth it!
Now…a few photos that I have taken, that have inspired me in different ways…
The Onyx Plate 
Reminds me of a poem…you ever heard of The Dash by Linda Ellis?
I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end
He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years
For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.
So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?
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Wow! That’s beautiful, Jo. Thanks for posting it here! I’ve never seen it before, but it is truly an inspirational poem. Can you imagine your dash??? :)
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Here here! Keep up the good work! Maybe one day I will start a blog of my own. If I decided to blog though I would want to write about finances and how that mixes in with politics, friends, family and just life in general. However, I think there would be a tremendous amount of red tape for me to be allowed to do that due to my career. Unless I wrote under a pen name I don’t think I’d be allowed to say things how I want to say them. By the way, I hope that you are saving all your work [writings] onto your hard drive and backing it up, just in case wordpress ever decided they owned your words or worse they disappear entirely.
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Thanks for the tip and support, Zack! You would be great at a controversial blog…. ;) I would read it for sure! We need to think of a pen name for you.
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LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! Thank you so much for including me in your first post. I am so happy you enjoy my blog and find it inspiring. I can already tell that I will be a big fan of yours as well! I am going to favorite it ASAP. You are so gifted at photography! Beautiful photos!
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Thanks, Jenilee! I appreciate the support and inspiration!
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Gorgeous photos. Thanks for the mention in the blog. I’m definitely going to be checking out Peppermint Pretty.
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Thanks! I just point and shoot what I find beautiful… It’s easy here in the South to do that, isn’t it?
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Jennifer, You talk about inspiring someone or make a difference. There was a freshman in college who told his professor that he wanted to “make a dent in the universe”. The professor laughed at him. So this skinny little kid dropped out of Harvard to pursue his dream. This little kid was Bill Gates. Keep your dreams close to your heart and never lose sight.
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It kind of puts things in perspective when you can appreciate what others have done with their dreams…thanks for that! It’s a long road ahead, but, it’s going to be a good road.
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I am crying now chickadee! I am so excited about reading your entries and I will be checking out the others you mentioned. I have had a few changes in my life recently. I will catch you up one day soon. Oh and the first picture of the blue flower…that is a hydrangea…i think so. That is my favorite flower and was Mama Gladys’ too. She had big bushes of them growing around her house…so that photo was perfect.
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It is a hydrangea indeed! :) I hope the changes are for the good. Sometimes we need to make changes in our lives to really realize who we are, and how strong we can be. Make the best of your changes… <3
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Thanks a lot for the article, I actually learned a lot from it. Extremly good content on this website. Always looking forward to new post.
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Thanks for this post. I certainly agree with what you are saying. I have been talking about this subject a lot lately with my father so more than likely this will get him to see my point of view. Fingers crossed!
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