I just wanted to take a few minutes to write a new blog post. I’ll be frank, there are days (weeks, in fact) where I see this blog as a distraction to what I really need to be doing, but I need to remind myself that the blog, like all promotional vehicles, are a necessary evil and that I can’t do this on my own.

 That’s never been more apparent to me than in the last few days. Yep, we’ve had a bit of a shocker lately and things haven’t been as smooth sailing as what we would have liked them to be but that’s the nature of the beast and I would be lying if I said “oh wow, I didn’t expect that to happen”.

I’m just overwhelmed though by the support that’s come through via Twitter and email since the last blog post. I’ve often wondered if people are ever truly inspired by anyone. I know I’ve been inspired by some amazing people in my life, but I wonder what inspires others… and more specifically what that inspiration leads them to do. When I see so little real action being taken by so many people, sometimes I question whether in this day and age whether we’ve lost the passion, lost the ability to be truly inspired and to take action based on the work or attitude of others. Let’s face it – if we have, we’re pretty screwed.

So you can imagine my surprise when I started to receive emails this week from people literally all over the world, who said “hey, you inspired me to…” and to be honest, I’d be excited to just hear that I inspired you to turn a light off but some of these emails have been extraordinary and really the confirmation that I needed this week. So… go you!

I just want to share a bit of this email that I received last night:

As I told you on Twitter a while ago, I recently organized a fundraiser night at college that raised $1100 towards Peter Mac Cancer Center. This didn’t just happen. What you and Rick are doing got me thinking about what I could do to change the world, albeit on a much smaller scale. When a first year resident on my floor was diagnosed with leukaemia I saw this as an opportunity to ‘take a leaf out of your book’ and raise money for cancer research. And it doesn’t end there. As you know I study a journalism degree. I have recently changed that slightly to include a second major: international studies. Whilst I am still ultimately indecisive about what career I want to have I have been influenced by the path you have recently chosen to take. Next year I will be applying for an internship at World Vision which will hopefully lead to a possible career working for Non Government Organizations, specifically in the areas of human rights abuses. This is how my life has changed (for the better) on account of you.

 How the heck could I be even slightly unhappy after that? This message comes from a human being who I highly rate. He’s a remarkable guy who I believe could do, or be anything that he chose. I’m honoured to even know him and this message means the world to me.

So this post is really just about being inspired and asking you all to honestly take a few minutes to think about who really inspires YOU and why? Then asking you to harness that inspiration while it’s real and present and doing something with it. I don’t care who it is or what you’re inspired to do, just DO something. If you want to post a comment below to tell everyone who you’re inspired by and why, please do – it might help others who have a bit of a blank

I’m personally inspired by a LOT of people but my main inspirations have been Diana Princess of Wales, Michael Jackson, Ghandi, Mother Teresa and Steve Irwin. My real living inspiration though is my children, their faith in me brings me to tears and their support, love and devotion to making the world a better place is unparalleled. If I do nothing else in my life of any merit, these children are one hell of a legacy.

 On the weekend two of my kids made this video and my eldest son edited it and put it all together to enter a competition for Steve Irwin day. They’ve given up a LOT to support me on this crusade and they’ve never once complained or whined about anything they couldn’t have or do. They’ve also learnt the painful lesson that staying true to your cause leaves you open to humiliation, victimisation and ridicule by non-contributing zeroes who simply make themselves feel better by putting others down.

 If you can watch this video, then go to YouTube and give them a five star rating, it would mean a lot for me to have them win this prize and be rewarded for being true superheroes.

 Please share this video with everyone you know to help us raise awareness for Project 18.

Oh… and as I always say, be good to yourselves, be good to your earth and live with PASSION!