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Inspiration for the Spirit

A lovely place to wander for poetry and inspiration to soothe the soul

Home ▷ Reflections ▷ Beginnings

Beginnings

by Patricia Petro

flower face

It had been a pivotal year for me.

Though I was well-past the sad events that had left me lonely with an empty nest, I was still bridging that space between where I was in my life and where I wanted to be.

I had started dating again with the hope of meeting someone with whom I could share my life, but I wasn’t taking it seriously enough, and a bad breakup left me feeling fragile and fragmented.

What the hell was wrong with me?

I looked inward for answers. I read everything I could and found comfort and inspiration in the words and wisdom of others. Identifying with others helped me to better understand that what I was feeling was not unique. I came to accept my own humanity—faults and all—and, in turn, was able to forgive others for theirs. Releasing the past and letting go of things I could never change, I gained a fresh perspective on who I was and what it was I honestly wanted in life.

“Never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.” —Germany Kent

Though I am not actively spiritual—that is, I do not study spirituality or pursue it as a lifestyle—I do embrace spiritual philosophies in my daily life. Spirituality, to me, is a state of mind . . . a peaceful coexistence with the material world that resonates from within.

garden pagodaOne evening, I went with a friend to see Sri Sri Ravi Shankar speak on “The Art of Living.” It was the first time I had ever been to a “spiritual” gathering, and I didn’t know what to expect. I was surprised to find the large conference room at the hotel quickly filling to capacity with “normal” people like myself—men and women in business suits coming directly from their offices—who were all there to experience the peaceful evening the newspaper ad had promised. We were not disappointed. The presentation was powerful in its simplicity . . . and it was uplifting. The guided group meditation was awesome. I was so profoundly moved by the message of peace and love, I went home feeling absolutely renewed and inspired.

That night, I decided to build a website.

I wanted to create a calm and soothing environment for quiet self-reflection where others, too, might feel the love I felt within.

It was my intention to fill the site with poems I had written, essays, quotes, music, and links to all the beautiful and useful websites that had helped me along the way. I didn’t know a thing about coding, but it didn’t matter. I was eager to learn and anxious to get started.

Thus, Inspiration for the Spirit . . . a heavenly place to wander for poetry and inspiration to soothe the soul . . . was born.

It was a new beginning for me.

“No, this is not the beginning of a new chapter in my life; this is the beginning of a new book. That first book is already closed, ended, and tossed into the seas; this new book is newly opened, has just begun. Look, it is the first page, and it is a beautiful one.” —C. JoyBell C.

Since then, the website has taken on a life of its own. Like me, it has evolved through the years and continues to grow. It is a reflection of the woman I am.

Copyright © 2023 Patricia Petro • All rights reserved.

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