"Large, naked, raw carrots are acceptable as food only to those who live in hutches eagerly awaiting Easter" Fran Lebowitz

By Joy Mizzoni

Team Support Specialist, ActionCOACH Spokane 

I can’t remember the last time I rushed to work because I was so inspired to write. Actually, come to think of it, I can’t remember the last time I actually felt inspired. I throw that word around a lot. Inspiration. What does it mean? Perhaps it means something different to each person. For me, personally, I use inspiration synonymously with the word hope.  But then again, I love making up my own rules. Grammar is no exception.

It is impossible for me to write if I’m constantly on guard. Although I’m a huge fan of fiction, the words refuse to flow if, in the back of my mind, I’m worried about revealing too much. Too much of what you may ask? Well, too much of “me.” 

I keep thinking that I have successfully pulled off this public persona that has little to do with my past and present. The truth of the matter is that I have none of you fooled. Take one look at my paintings and there you go. I lie to myself constantly and think that my paintings reveal nothing. That every person who has purchased my art, or has kindly and generously supported me at my shows, see only pretty colors. Talk about denial, right?

Case and point. Tell me this isn’t a shrink’s ultimate fantasy?

Where am I going with this? Good question. Just keep following me and I promise we will arrive at a destination soon…maybe…but then again….

Here is a little tip for those of you dealing with writer’s block: Stop second guessing yourself.

The sad truth of the matter is that great writers, thespians (not to be confused with lesbians), artists, community leaders, all put their heart and soul on the line. They spill their guts. Whether it’s a myriad of mayhem on canvas or a splattering of words spilled across paper, they are true to themselves. 

Not everyone is that brave. I’m not that brave yet, but I’m working on it. This blog posting is evidence.

See exhibit A, your honor.

Moving on….

I want to share with you an event that happened to me this morning.

There is a McDonalds on my way to work that I usually stop by for a coffee in the mornings. This morning there was a huge line that wasn’t moving very fast.  Now, I really, really, really, (REALLY) want my coffee, but I also don’t want to be late for work. So, reluctantly I looked in my rear-view mirror, then back at the line and decided just to back on up out of there.  I put my car (my NEW car still with dealer plates mind you!) in reverse and start to back up. All of a sudden I hear a blaring horn! I look up and see a car behind me!

The woman throws her hands up and looks at me in disbelief! I jump out of the car (thankfully I put it in park first!) and survey the disaster. By the grace of the goddesses I stopped just in time! There was no damage.  Almost in tears, hair still dripping wet, I apologize profusely. Phew. That was close!

So I pull forward, order my coffee (somehow I still made it to work on time….you can rest easy!) and proceed cautiously to the window to pay. I debate for a moment about paying for the woman behind me. Payday isn’t until Friday and in all honesty, dear reader, I have maybe one tank of gas to my name until then. I decided that I’ll figure it out somehow and that it was the right thing to do to pay for her breakfast. (In the back of my mind, I’m thinking, please don’t have ordered $20 dollars worth of McMuffins!)

So I tell the cashier, “I’d like to pay for the woman behind me since I just backed into her.” And he looks at me and hands me my coffee and says, “The gentleman in front of you paid for your coffee.”  He then explains to me that I was like the sixth car in the line that paid for the person behind me!

Okay…where the hell are the hidden cameras?

I couldn’t make this stuff up folks! I was moved to tears. I had no idea someone paid for my coffee! I felt so thankful that I decided to pay for her breakfast because it was the right thing to do; not because someone had done it for me. That’s the mind-blowing point here. 

Stop and think about this for a moment. 

Ponder. Wonder.

We’ve all seen those commercials for some stupid product where they show how kindness is contagious.

Who knew that it was actually true?

Think about this for a moment.

If this event never happened, I would not be sitting here writing this blog.

Kindness and generosity is not only contagious it is INPSIRING.  It FUELS CREATIVITY.

The words you are reading right now are a direct result of this experience.

Pretty powerful huh? 

I challenge each of you to do something unexpectedly kind for someone else and see what happens. You just might be pleasantly surprised to the point of astonishment.

(Oh, and if you’d like to contribute the Joy Gas Fund Foundation we accept cash or check!)