[Stewart]

?

[milamber_reborn]

Feist, Jordan, King, Tolkien and Martin have inspired me to be a writer.

[kater]

sad to say but first gf.

[kassimir funk]

I would have to say that people in general inspire me, particularly through my relationships with them. And of course I can not leave out the fairer sex who still confounds me as much today as they ever have.

Da Funk

[Kirby]

Oo! Good question.

A very important "what".
My parents never (to my memory) told me to "stop that, you're being stupid" as a child. (I was a very creative child.)
I also had a mostly good run of teachers - only one stood out as being cruel (mentally).

I shudder to think of all the children who have been told that their imagination is "stupid".

For that, I have a lot to be thankful for, as my imagination has escaped to the present day relatively unscathed.

So it's not what has inspired me, but more "what" has enabled me to remain inspired by pretty much anything and everything.

[kahnovitch]

Not sure about the question. Inspired me to what exactly?

Nevermind.

Bruce Lee inspired me to train in martial arts and also to try to achieve something with my life.
Einstein (and more recently Stephen Hawking) inspired me to learn as much as I could about those big questions regarding the universe.
The lack of any good science fiction (IMO) inspired me to start writing it (whether or not it's good, we'll have to wait and see).
This forum inspired me to be a little nicer to people (hard to believe I know!)
Beer inspires me to talk (or argue to be more accurate) the legs off everyone around me.

[Hereford Eye]

My sixth grade teacher, a nun whose name I don't remember, inspired me to read for pleasure.
My eighth grade teacher taught me what it means to be incompetent.
The army inspired me to take responsibility for my actions.
Michele Ann taught me that living well really depends on someone else.
My children taught me the lessons in humility that Shelley forgot.
William Saroyan inspired me with one little line in The Human Comedy. Two little boys, one about six and the other about four, are walking through a library and the older is giving the younger the benefit of his experience as they wander the stacks. "All these books," he says, (or as close as memory says he says), "all these books and all of them say something." That was in sixth grade, too. I've never been able to enter a library or book store since without that sense of wonder and reverence engulfing me.

[kegasaurus]

The only place inspiration is lacking, is when the person in the mirror stares at me without a smile.

[Erebus]

This one is easy!

My wife is my greatest inspiration. Her unyielding and unquestionable support of all that I do is the reason I ever get anything completed in life, and for that, I am inspired to strive for things I never thought possible. For 20 years I have experienced what it truly means to have a soul mate - 20 years that I probably would not have survived had she not been at my side. What greater inspiration can there be than the love of the greatest person in the world?

[Eldanuumea]

As far as my career in education, my greatest inspiration was my chemistry and physics teacher. He connected science and humanites in imaginative ways and challenged me more than any other teacher I have ever had. He had a sense of humor, but was very demanding. I have unconsciously patterned much of what I do after him, although I teach English instead of science.

My husband has been an inspiration. His environment growing up was unstable, dysfunctional, and it's a miracle he turned out as he did......a strong, Godly, faithful, loving father and husband. He is an example of a phoenix arising from ashes.

My most important spiritual inspiration was Daryl Byler, a mennonite pastor who currently works in the Washington office of the Mennonite Central Committee, an organization that works for peace and justice throughout the world. He demonstrated what it means to strive to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.

Current important inspirations are several net friends who regularly affirm me, lift my spirits, entertain me, share their joys and sorrows with me, and generally bring me joy and fellowship of the highest order. I love them dearly and can't imagine life without them.