Rosanne Cash

"Reading inspirational and motivational quotes daily is like taking my vitamins."

— Rosanne Cash

American Singer/Songwriter/Author

1955 - 

You and I live in a very negative world.  Just listen to the news on TV, read the daily newspaper and listen to the people around you.  If we want to remain positive amidst this negativity, we need to give ourselves daily doses of motivation.  We need to daily feed our minds and our hearts with inspirational words.  We feed ourselves food daily because we are hungry.  We take baths regularly because we become dirty.  The same is true for our spirit.  We are in charge of what enters our minds, our hearts and our souls.

The reason this blog is called Daily Inspiration is because each of us needs to feed positive energy into our spirit.  So how can you use the the positive quotes I share with you everyday?  Here are some ways to daily feed your soul.

1. Memorize each quote and repeat it to yourself throughout the day.
2. Write the quote down and reread it throughout the day.
3. Share the quote with others and tell them what it means to you.  
4. Meditate on the meaning of the quote for 10 - 15 minutes.
5. Keep a journal and write down what the quote means to you and how you will apply it to your life.

Here is Rosanne singing The Wheel.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Music is the universal language of mankind."

— Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

American Poet

1807 - 1882

Music is a special art form in that it touches the soul at a deeper level than most of the other arts.  Music can cross language barriers often without translation.  Music connects people in ways that the other arts don't.  When we are happy, we all have a desire to sing with a joyful voice.  When we are sad, our singing gives voice to our melancholy.

In college when I was blue, I would walk along the railroad tracks and sing to myself.  I cannot carry a tune, but when alone I will sing to myself.  Music moves me at a deep level.  

During the last 24 years, I have seen the impact of music on my training classes.  I have the participants of my classes sing and dance as part of the class.  I am amazed at the power of music to break down barriers and cause people to open up and share their thoughts and feelings.

Many writers and artists listen to music when they are creating.  What kind of music do you listen to when you are creating?  What music gets your creative juices flowing?

Here is a video of Carrie Underwood inspiring an audience of country and western singers with her rendition of How Great Thou Art.

Rita Coolidge

"Too often the opportunity knocks, but by the time you disengage the chain, push back the bolt, unhook the two locks and shut off the burglar alarms, it's too late."

— Rita Coolidge

American Musician

1945 - 

Has opportunity passed you by?  Are you so busy protecting yourself from the world that you have missed opportunities when they came calling?  Opportunity often requires that we move fast.  If we hesitate, we lose.  And sometimes we miss opportunities because we are waiting for the perfect opportunity to appear.  No opportunities are perfect.  They are all filled with risk.  And sometimes opportunity leads to failure.  But the bigger failure is to not to have tried at all.  And when we are open to opportunity knocking, we will be surprised by how one opportunity will open up other opportunities.  So get off your couch and open the door.  Opportunity is visiting and he doesn't like to be ignored.

Here is Rita Coolidge singing Superstar.  Enjoy as you contemplate your opportunities.

Katharine Graham

"To love what you do and feel that it matters — how could anything be more fun?"

— Katharine Graham

American Publisher

1917 - 2001

Do you love to paint?  Do you love to write?  Do you love to act?  Do you love to draw?  What is your passion?  If you do not enjoy writing or singing or painting, then maybe it is time to get out of the creative business and find something you love to do.   The creative world is difficult and if you don't have fun being creative, you will feel like you have been hit by truck. 

What we as creative leaders do is very important.  We touch people's lives and help them feel better about themselves.  We solve problems and show the world a better way.  We bring beauty and ideas into the world.  We help people escape their mundane worlds for a short time.  We inspire people to be better than they are.  We give hope where there is none.  We help people visit new worlds and experience new places.

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture and, if possible, speak a few reasonable words."

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

German Author

1749 - 1832

While the art we create is important, the life we live is even more important.  Every day as the saying goes, we need to smell the roses.  What do you do to keep you grounded?  To keep your spirit alive?  To fill your soul with peace?  Do you sing in the shower or a choir?  Do you read for 15 minutes or more every day? Do you view the paintings of others?  Do you complement the people around you?  Do you tell someone you love them?  

What have you done today?  Have you hugged someone?  Have you taken a walk in the park?  Did you enjoy the sunrise?  Did you eat a ice cream cone?  Did you say thank you to someone?  Did you help a stranger?  Did you kiss your spouse?  

Take care of your soul.  Nourish it.  Fill it with love.  

Jonathan Winters

"I couldn't wait for success . . . so I went ahead without it."

— Jonathan Winters

American Comedian/Actor/Artist

1925 - 

Ah, this statement hits home.  If you spend your life waiting for success, it may never come.  Keep doing what you need to do.  If that is to paint, then paint.  If that is to write, then write.  If that is to sing and dance, then sing and dance.  The key is not to wait on success because when it comes you may not recognize.  It may be disguised in the love of a soul mate or in the gift of friends.

Pablo Picasso

"Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." 

— Pablo Picasso
Spanish Artist

1881 - 1973

The time we spend creating is like a splash of sunshine on a rainy day.  It helps to cleanse the soul and free the spirit.  I am most enthused when I am creating.  Have you ever wondered why humans have created art, literature, music and stories?  What is the value that creative works bring to the survival of the species?  Sure, you can argue that technological advances bring value to the survival of the species.  But a painting or a poem or a statue?  What value do they bring?  Or is there more to life than the survival of the species?

Who receives more pleasure and joy the person painting the picture or the person who looks at it?  The person who writes the novel or the person who reads it?  The person who composes the music or the person who listens to it?  Why do so many later in life turn to the creative arts?  After the child rearing is done?  The career has peaked?  

What is the value of poem?  A painting?  A song?  A story?

Jean-Baptist-Camille Corot

"I hope with all my heart that there will be painting in heaven."

— Jean-Baptist-Camille Corot

French Artist

1796 - 1875

his dying words

Working in health care all these years has taught me that death comes to us all and that we need to be ready for it.  I love this quote because it expresses a deep desire to always be creating.  How terrible a place this world would be if we could not paint, write or sing.  Death for me is not being able to create, not being able to express myself.  When I have stopped writing for periods of time, I felt like I had died.  I ask the same question of God:  "Will I be able to write poetry in heaven?"