Rain drops of inspiration … everywhere I go

Change. It’s inevitable. It can be scary. It can be refreshing and exhilarating. All depends on how you react. Right now, I’m in the midst of a career change – grabbing hold, embracing the bumpy ride and letting my imagination run wild around “what’s next?!”

I’m excited to leave fear, the statuesque and mediocrity bound in the backseat (to paraphrase Elizabeth Gilbert).

In these last four weeks of discovery, exploration and unwind, I’ve found little moments of inspiration and joy that remind me the path I’ve chosen is the right one. The “moment” I’m in is to be savored … deliciously.

Where or what has inspired me these last four weeks? Oh, just little rain drops of life …

1. San Francisco Skyline, Jack Kerouac, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Local Pubs (and people). Yes, I completed my marketing writing bootcamp and rewarded my accomplishment with an impromptu trip with a friend to Cali. It was exactly what I needed to refresh my heart and soul.
2. Young Entrepreneurship and Cupcakes. Yummy, heavenly cupcake goodness wrapped in the dreams of a young 18-year-old woman entrepreneur of Bliss Patisserie. Hayley Thompson‘s story inspired me to say “yes, I can achieve my dreams too!”
3. Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – While waiting for the book to arrive, I discovered Elizabeth Gilbert on Facebook. Ironically, I discovered her via this post: “#tbt – the beginnings of Eat, Pray, Love. Twelve years ago, on Sept. 3, 2002, I got on a plane and flew to Rome …. to begin a year-long journey … on a search for a new Liz.” I was on the search for a new Melissa.
4. My mentor’s honest wake-up call to: THINK BIGGER. IGNORE THE FEAR (mine and my family’s). VALUE YOUR TALENT. I was (sorta) ready to stare boldly into the face of the unknown –  it just took a hard nudge to take that first step.
5. Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs biography. Finished the last page (of 577 pages) today. I’m in awe of his accomplishments and failures over his short life. I’m also in awe of his passion to intersect technology and the arts – and what that passion created for the world.

What will inspire me tomorrow?