A new year! Yes, we’re all happy to say goodbye to 2020 and welcome the hope 2021 has to offer. There’s a lot to be inspired by right now. The inspirational frontline workers taking care of patient after patient, scientist working on a vaccine to help us move forward, and all the teachers working hard to make this school year work for their students in the best and safest way possible. There are inspiring stories everywhere, and it made me think back to all the stories, the books that have inspired me throughout the years.
Inspiring stories stick with us, they stay on us like the smell of woodsmoke after sitting by a warm fire. Inspiring stories inspire other stories, creating a circle of life that sparks joy in the hearts of all those it touches. This week I’ll be sharing the stories which have inspired me. Inspired my daydreams, inspired my own writing, and inspired adventures I’m still dreaming about today.
The chapter book I remember being caught up in was one my mom read to me, The Christmas Doll, by Elvira Woodruff, about two orphan sisters who find themselves in dire circumstances, at Christmas time. The story follows them through the cold streets, sees them separated, one having to try to save the other, written with heart and detail. I couldn’t wait till we came home at night after a long day at school so I could hear the next part of the story.
That’s what a good story does, it makes you want more, it causes you sleepless nights because you can’t put it down.
This story inspired me because of the context in which it was read to me, which is one of the most important parts of an inspiring story. If you read a story during a hard time in life, you’ll remember how it made you feel, how it helped you cope, help you escape from reality. For me and the Christmas doll, this was a special time of my mom reading me a story after a long day at school. It also served as a reminder of the true meaning of Christmas, love, family, and helping those in need.
Inspiration can come from memories and remembering The Christmas Doll in this new year inspires me to create stories that inspire others, that mom’s read to their kids and the kids look back fondly on those memories as I have mine.
LET’S DISCUSS:
What book inspired you when you were younger that you still remember to this day? Comment below and let’s discuss it!
Abigail Elizabeth Black 
I love this book! I would have to say the books that inspired me were the Betsy, Tacy, and Tib series by Maud Hart Lovelace. They had adventures, learned valuable lessons of friendship, and more. And I remember reading most of them with mom, which is a special memory for me as well. 🙂
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