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Future Focused: On Inspiration

By Roxie Nichols (12-year-old) | Fall 2024 Inspire(d)

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Future Focused: Listening to the Next Generation. A new Inspire(d) column written by pre-teens and teens, to help give the next generation a chance to voice their opinions.

What does inspiration mean to you?

Roxie Nichols on inspiration

Inspiration is connected to everything you do in life. When you get up from bed in the morning, you’re inspired by something, and whether it’s your alarm, your partner, or whatever plans you have, you’re going to eventually get up. The world needs inspiration because we wouldn’t get anything done otherwise. 

Roxie and Aryn find inspiration in the world
Roxie & Aryn (mom)

Inspiration feels different for everyone, but for me, it’s that feeling of excitement or something along the lines of motivation or energy. When you read a good book or someone says something that sounds fun to do or you go outside and smell the fresh air and feel motivated to do something productive. It could be something big you’re inspired to do (like go on a big trip or adventure) or something small (like walk around your neighborhood or clean your room – which might be big for some people). If you really think about it, inspiration and motivation go hand and hand. I think the feeling is almost like your brain waking up and doing something good.  

Some of the most interesting or important parts of life would go away if there wasn’t any inspiration. If Thomas Edison or Benjamin Franklin didn’t wake up one day and think, I’m going to go to work and invent something new, we wouldn’t have any of their inventions (including the lightbulb, which is not only useful, it became the symbol for a good idea because it was such a good idea).

Benji and Roxie inspire each other
Roxie & Benji (dad)

If no one was ever inspired, there wouldn’t be the amazing people written about in history books for future generations to read, and there probably wouldn’t even be history books… or books for that matter. No one would have fought for equal rights or been inspired to help each other. We’d be disconnected and lonely, I imagine.

If I’m having trouble feeling inspired, I try to find something to inspire me like a person, pet, memento, thought, or idea. If I fail to be inspired by anyone or thing, I take a short break and do nothing, then try again. It usually works. But if I’m truly not inspired, I sit in bed or on the couch and read or watch TV for however long I want. It’s okay to take some time. I think a lot of people don’t feel inspired, but eventually someone or something will inspire them, and they’ll get up and do something great. 

Athena is an inspiration
Athena the Bernedoodle!

I feel inspired by the many amazing people in my life (my friends, my family, and more) and the beautiful world we all live in. My friends and family also help me find other things to inspire me like going for hikes or doing something I’ve never done before. Books and music can be inspiring to me as well as doing crafts. I’ve also been having fun playing piano and string bass and riding horses. But I try to inspire myself more than anyone or anything, because it’s most important to inspire and support yourself and not completely rely on someone else. Inspiration is a big part in everyone’s lives, so I hope you work on inspiring yourself and others.

Roxie Nichols


Roxie Nichols is the daughter of Inspire(d)’s Aryn Henning Nichols and Benji Nichols. She got a cool polaroid camera for her 12th birthday this summer, so we took these fun pics! She is starting 6th grade this fall (2024).