Thoughts on Inspiration

by Rob Rose

Inspiration is a great renewable energy source. One can take inspiration from others, then turn around and create actions that can inspire. Tapping that well of inspiration in ourselves and others creates positive energy that continues to cycle through the world, as long as we keep the current moving in the right direction.

I constantly feed from the inspiration received from others. I think about what others have done and are doing, and try to bend the light of their efforts to focus on my own projects. To my Rotary and Rotaract friends, to my family and other friends: you are my guides, my mentors, the source of my strength and inspiration. I thank you all for honoring me with your love and friendship.

On this trip, I wish to acknowledge an inspiration to myself and others, who recently passed away: Dick Ryen, from Emerald City Rotary Club. Dick was a part of my life for a relatively short time, but in that time, we became good friends, and as happens with good friends, we shared positive experiences and some difficult times. I would liken him to my own dad, whom I would describe as a great guy and a nice person, who thought of others and was well thought of by many. Maybe that description doesn’t sound like a tremendous accolade, but I would be more than satisfied myself to be described thusly. I am dedicating this, my fifth trip to Nepal, to Dick Ryen. If a recently-applied-for matching grant is approved by the Rotary Foundation, a library in a Nepali public school will be dedicated to Dick in his memory.

Some final thoughts as I sit in the Hong Kong airport, awaiting my flight to Mumbai (Bombay) — may it serve as some bit of inspiration to others. To those who have already enriched their lives through their Rotary experiences, I congratulate you! To those who want to join in, but aren’t sure how, or how they will find the time, Rotary is a vehicle through which good can happen. Today we are alive, today we can affect positive change. Put yourself out there , show your humanity, take a risk. If you can dream it, you can do it!