I recently did an exercise on Facebook where I posted three pictures everyday for seven days that inspire me without posting any words.  As I carefully selected each picture, it occurred to me that I was going back to my family and my favorite places time and time again.

There are so many ways that my family inspires me:

My Grandma:  I have always been grandma’s girl.  That bond was formed when I was born and has remained strong ever since.  Growing up, I spent almost every summer with my grandparents.  It was there that my grandma taught me the values of family, hard work, determination and stubbornness.  My grandma has never been the warm and fuzzy type.  Hugs did not come easy, nor were they free.  However, I have never doubted her love for me.  I am so very lucky that I still have her here with me.  I am even luckier that I will be able to see her in two weeks.

My Parents:  My parents really struggled financially when I was younger.  However, they never let us kids know it.  Instead we knew love.  In addition, we learned that in order to get something in life, you had to work for it.  My dad has one of the strongest work ethics of anyone I have ever known.  He has always done everything he can to provide for his family and to be our pillar of strength.  He passed those same virtues down to me and for that he is a true inspiration.  My mom is a survivor.  She fought breast cancer and won.  She survived a rough childhood.  She raised us kids to be kind, loving people.  She inspires me to put my family first.

My Brothers:  Curt wasn’t with us near long enough.  During the time he was here, he taught me unconditional love and instilled a fierce protectiveness in me.  He inspired me to be the best person that I can be.  Bill and I have had our differences.  A lot of that came from being so close together in age.  Now Bill is one of my best friends.  He is an amazing husband and father.  He is a business owner.  He is one of the rocks that holds our family together.  And he inspires me to do the same.

Dillon:  I never knew love until I became Dillon’s mom.  He is an amazing young man with a wonderful heart.  He sees the good in people, even when it is hard to see.  Dillon’s smile has a way of melting my heart.  He inspires me to be the very best person that I can be each and every day.  He inspires me to fight when I don’t feel like fighting.  He inspires me to live.

Jon:  Jon is my partner in life and my very best friend.  He is a wonderful man who works hard to provide for his family.  He puts up with a lot from me and does it without getting angry.  He treats Dillon as though he were his own.  Jon is my rock that holds me together when no one else can.  He inspires me to laugh when I don’t feel like laughing.  Dillon and I are very lucky to have him in our lives.

Cheryl:  Cheryl is a true inspiration in and of herself.  She fought breast cancer and kicked it’s ass.  She is a true warrior.  And I am so very lucky to have her as my friend.  In fact, I’m so very lucky that her entire family has welcomed me into their lives with open arms.  They have all become my second family.  It may sound strange to some, but I am thankful for breast cancer.  For without it, Cheryl and I would not be friends.

The other pictures are places that inspire me:

Door County:  This is one of my very favorite places on earth.  Jon took me on a surprise trip to Door County, WI and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan after I finished radiation.  I completely fell in love with Door County.  I love how every time I go, I find new beauty.  I love that I can have my toes in the water one minute and be in the timber the next.  I love how completely relaxed I am when I am there.

North Dakota:  This is home.  This is where I go to find peace.  I can be sad, lonely or afraid and all I have to do is go home and I am happy.  I need to get a good dose of home at least once a year.  My dose is only two weeks away 🙂

My Pond:  Jon has always wanted to live in the country.  We have spent many hours driving around looking at houses and dreaming about where we would ultimately live.  I always said that I wanted to live near water.  He always wanted to live near timber.  Now we have the best of both worlds.  Our little piece of heaven is a house in the valley, surrounded by trees and with a pond right outside our door.  Nature’s beauty outside my door is a true inspiration.

All of these people and places are true reminders that I have a lot to fight for.  All of these are reasons to get up every day and choose me.  For in looking to them for inspiration, and choosing me, I am ultimately choosing them.