On one of the radio shows last week they were talking about people who’ve inspired us. Some of the callers spoke about their parents or another relative. Teachers and coaches were mentioned as were great leaders in history. It got me thinking.

Several people come immediately to mind.

My first grade teacher, Alice Leiniger. She thought I was smart and had great potential. Because she believed in me, I believed in myself and strove to do the best job possible.

My mother who always thought I could do what I set my mind to do. But yet, if I didn’t want to set my sights too high, that would have been okay with her. She epitomized what unconditional love was all about. The crazy thing was, she grew up in a family where she didn’t feel valued. She told me she vowed that her children would always know how much they were loved.

Now, I turn to some strong women in history. Helen Keller. Eleanor Roosevelt. Mary Pickford (actress and founder of United Artists). All of these women inspire me. Not because they were perfect, but because they stood for something and made a mark on history.

How about you? Who has inspired you?