I have been told several times that I’ve been an inspiration to them or something to that effect. Truth be told it’s something I’ve never quite been comfortable with. I don’t think of myself as someone particularly inspiring. Ninoy Aquino, Jose Rizal, Mother Teresa, even a modern day hero Tony Meloto, now those people are inspiring. They’ve actually made a tremendous difference in people’s lives. I have not done that.
Yet, people do say that. I usually reply with a simple “thank you”. I don’t think much of it. It is nice though. Not because I think of myself as a hero or someone great. It’s nice because it’s a good feeling to know you actually inspired one person.
Today I got to thinking; the power to inspire people however few they may be is one of the greatest gifts I think I’ve received in this life. I don’t think a lot of people can do that. I am grateful I can even if it’s just inspiring one or two people.
I read somewhere today that we should use the gifts we’ve been given to be of service to others. Thinking back I guess that’s why I accept invitations to talk in front of people during events such as the Single’s for Christ’s Christian Life Program or other similar events.
I want to use my experience and how I deal with it as a way of being of service to other people. I have unique experiences, which has allowed me to learn valuable lessons that I otherwise would not have. It would be a shame if I kept those lessons to myself. That’s why I share it with other people through the talks I give.
My hope now is that I can share whatever it is I’ve learned to the most people I can in hopes that it can help change someone’s life for the better. If my struggles and hardships can help change someone’s view on how he/she sees his or her life and makes it better then I would have done a good thing. I would have made use of the gift I’ve been given.
Some people might see my situation as a curse or something bad. As the years go by I learn that I can look at it as such or I can also look at it as a gift. It’s a gift because I’ve learned so much from it. I’ve learned compassion, humility, kindness, etc. I’ve learned so many valuable lessons from it.
Most of all I think I’m realizing now that my situation has given me a chance to inspire people instead of having them feel sorry for me. I think that’s one of the best things to come out of this. I hope that I get to do it for a long time and with as much people as I can.