Week 3: Inspirations and Influences

I never thought about the difference between inspirations and influences before reading the post on this subject on My Purple Dreams. 
Purple Dreamer's friend says: "I guess someone who inspires you motivates you, and someone who influences you impacts your behavior."
Madeline Killen says: "Influences blend into the finished product and inspirations just spark the process."
So very similar ideas. 
I like to think that every experience I have influences me. My eating disorder and problems with my mother have influenced me. My friends have influenced me- mostly by allowing me to take life at a slower pace, plan less, and worry less about my problems. My dad's ideologies and expectations have been a big influence on me, especially in terms of the value of education, honesty, and trying your best. My travels in Europe last summer influenced me- being around only my friend Sara, I felt that I was able to be myself all the time and by the end I felt so comfortable with my identity. The places I experienced and observed changed me, in a way I can't put my finger on. I was excited and enthusiastic, open, and ready to embrace life. My term in Italy has changed me in a different way- I think it's made me a lot more mellow and content, as opposed to wildly and intensely happy. I'm excited to return to Dartmouth soon and hope I can get that lovely happy feeling back. 
In terms of inspirations- my friends inspire me with their actions and words to make changes in my life and stay positive. I love cool art and sayings and I always read positive quotes online, especially when I'm feeling down. My friend Madeline inspired me to train for a marathon. Rome has inspired me to write this blog, because it made me feel the need to be creative. People at Dartmouth constantly inspire me- everyone has a different story and has had such special experiences and accomplishments. Instead of making me feel small they make me want to grow and be my best self and do all these cool things, too. 

All of my experiences and observations are tiny pieces that have aggregated and intertwined and become parts of my identity.