to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence; to fill or affect with a specified feeling, thought
Synonyms include: affect, animate, arouse, cause, elate, embolden, enkindle, enliven
Never underestimate the power of a well-written letter. Or, really, a heartfelt one.
I just finished replying to an email from my wonderful friend, Tam. She’s one of the kindest, most genuine souls in my life, and she never passes up a chance to let someone know how special she thinks they are. On a day when I’ve felt nothing but doubt in myself, doubt in my ability to carry out a dream, or doubt in allowing myself to even have one, she wrote and I read, “I truly want to thank you for being an inspiration.”
An inspiration to her, who I admire for being so full of faith rather than fear…unlike me. For someone who clings to her faith for protection and peace, I sure don’t give God enough opportunities to guide me through anything challenging. Aaah, the irony.
As much as I try to rely on only myself to maintain any sort of balance in the confidence department, some choice words from someone I trust never hurt. In fact, it always helps, especially when I’m not deliberately searching for it.
I’ve been berating myself all week for a lifetime of dilemmas that never reached a side; for not hoping hard or doing enough for daydreams to become reality sooner; for being an eternally late bloomer…in every aspect of my life. This was the week of self-loathing and today, things were reaching their paramount…until Tam’s email.
In a short electronic note thanking me for inspiring her, she inspired me. In just a few sentences, she kept me from stepping into a gloomy place that I promised months ago I would never visit again. It’s full of hopelessness and guilt, and no place for someone aspiring to experience good things – like me. Sometimes we need reminders, and the perfectly-timed letter always does the trick.
