On the Importance of Getting Inspired

Why listening to other people's perspectives can be the fuel we need.

I've been having a tough few weeks.

Stuff at work has been in conveyor-belt mode; everyday waking up to a long checklist of things to do. Do them, then start the next day with a brand new checklist.

You know what I mean; we've all been there.

In any case, I was in deep need of a mental breath of fresh air.

And that's why I want to share a story of how I got massively inspired by a guy called Samuel Lewis.

A few weeks ago, I stumbled across a video of him in conversation with a YouTuber I like called Peter Santenello. The two of them are walking around Samuel’s homestead farm in Brittany, France, as Samuel shares his approach to farming and life.

Samuel explains how he grows all the food he and his family need using only hand-held tools. As I'm into gardening, I'm watching, impressed.

They go from field to field as they talk.

Samuel explains about how, as a child in the ‘90s, he, his mother, father and sisters moved from the UK to the French countryside in search of a new life. His father Gareth started working the land and Samuel and his siblings grew up around the rhythms of a pastoral life.

Samuel's got a super interesting perspective on things so I'm really enjoying the conversation. I'm learning new things.

Then at one point, Samuel shows Peter the inside of one of the many man-made buildings dotting the farm (built by Samuel and his family). They’re in Samuel's office.

He turns on a printer and proceeds to print out a book. It’s a book Samuel and his father wrote together. Gareth wrote the text and Samuel drew all the illustrations.

Samuel stacks the papers coming out of the printer, cuts them to size, then binds the pages together using one of those spiral compressing tools.

As he’s giving the printed book to Peter as a gift, he explains how he and his father run their own publishing company. They print their own books and ship them themselves to people across the globe.

I’m amazed.

A complete D.I.Y. ethos, and it inspires the hell out of me.

I finish watching the video, go to Samuel's website and immediately order two books.

A couple weeks pass.

Then this week, I come back one day from the daily grind and I see a cardboard box with my name on it, waiting for me.

I had almost forgotten I'd ordered the books.

I rush inside and open the box. In it are these two books, and a hand written thank you letter, signed by Samuel.

Two of Gareth and Samuel Lewis’ books, “The Simple Life” and “An Introduction to Twenty-First Century; An antidote to globalisation”).

I've been devouring these books since.

Why do I tell you this?

Because of the importance of getting inspired.

Samuel and Gareth’s story made me think; it’s made me think of something much bigger than myself and has reminded me of the need to keep dreaming.

Because it is our dreams, our visions for the future, that keeps us shining.

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What about you? What’s inspired you lately?

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