We each need inspiration to move us through this life — to awaken from routine, meet life’s challenges and reach for our potentials.
Inspiration gives us vision — opening windows to new possibilities; showing what you can do with this life. It is a lens that transforms what we see in the mirror, in the face of another and our hope for the future.
It can give us courage — to persevere in the face of illness, misfortune, failure and loss; and to do what we know to be right.
What would life be without inspiration?
Imagine childhood without magic, families without love, working without meaning and living without passion. We’d be diminished by age with each passing year, surrender to illness, be defeated by disability and leave this life with a whisper.
There would be no path to follow, no beacon to guide us, and no hope to climb higher. There would be no reason to find that little extra within our hearts and give more of ourselves to the rest of the world.
Treat yourself to one of the seven wellsprings of inspiration.
• Heroes: Growing up, my role models were Superman, Batman and Spider-Man. Superheroes and the bigger than life characters of mythology and our great religions reflect the human journey through life. Their stories reflect the challenges we face and the call to have courage, find our unique voices and do what is right.
• Models of human achievement: During my school days, I spent many hours at the McGill branch of the Burnaby Public Library inspired by the great figures of history who showed us what a human being can achieve. The words and actions of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi continue to inspire generations.
• Everyday heroes: Heroes walk among us. They are the ordinary people like you and me, who choose to do extraordinary things; they express courage and perseverance in the face of overwhelming adversity and perform selfless acts of generosity and compassion.
• The inspiring people in your personal life: My greatest inspiration remains my mother. Though she passed away nearly 14 years ago, she continues to set my standards for morality and compassion.
• Those we serve: My patients have made me a better doctor. Their trust and confidence in me inspired me to be the best physician I can be. My golden rule of medicine is to treat each patient with the care I would expect for my family. My children have taught me humility and what matters most in life. Becoming a parent inspired me to be the best person I can be.
• Your calling: Joseph Campbell called this “following your bliss” and it is your gift to the world. Your calling is where your unique passions, talents and values intersect with the needs of the world.
• Love: Love, kindness, compassion and goodwill come in many forms. I measure success by how well I have loved others. At the end of the day and at the end of life, that’s all that really matters.
Davidicus Wong is a family physician and his columns appear regularly in the News
