April’s Muse

Inspiration for a Fresh Start

Lisbon Street Looking Toward the River. Photo by Paul Lampe

I grew up in a family where music was very important, took the obligatory piano lessons, but somehow lost my inspiration for it. I love that I have started to think about music again and where it fits in my life. I realize that my creativity stems largely from more visual spaces. I love designing spaces in my homes, I love photography, and I love writing. This is a great realization. But where does music fit in my life now? I listen to music every day. Paul and I are notorious for going to see a lot of live music and have plans for that this summer. I think music is more something I enjoy than something I create myself, and this enjoyment really complements the other creative endeavors in my life. Active versus passive is not a bad thing; it is more of a recognition of how music functions in my life. For that, I am grateful.

Sanlucar, Spain, across the Guadiana from Alcoutim, Portugal. Photo by Paul Lampe

This Fresh Start energy is going to be my guide, not current events, not so-called leaders, and not anyone else. When I listen to the voice that says I CAN, and I AM moving in the direction of my dreams, I feel aligned, invigorated, and ready. I am ready to do whatever I can to move the needle in the direction of the life I want to live, the one where we live in the best of both worlds. I can see that life and what steps I need to take to get there. When I stay in the energy of I CAN, then it is all possible.

I know there will be challenges and obstacles, but that has never stopped me. I have a strong will, and when I set my mind to accomplish something, I do it. I have a certain tenacity that has driven me my whole life. This tenacity, together with this fresh start, makes possibility feel more like a strong probability.

Chaque jour est une nouvelle vie. Each day is a new life.
— French Proverb

Do you have control over becoming inspired? The ancient Greeks believed it was the Muses, Melete, the Muse of Practice, Mneme, the Muse of memory, and Aoide, the Muse of song, who were the cause of inspiration. The very word “music” comes from this ancient idea that something outside of ourselves is where inspiration comes from. Maybe that’s true; it does come from outside of you, but when you look at the idea of practice, memory, and song, it is more of a blending of something new with what you already know. The idea that becoming inspired means you have already put some effort into what you want.

So, harkening back to the ancient Greeks, what if you could increase your ability to become inspired about something that matters to you through practice, memory, and song? I had never thought about it before, but where could music fit in? Could we make music a more active part of our lives? Why don’t we do more with music?

Phish Show July 4, 2025. Photo by Wendy Stieg

I love thinking about inspiration because it is the cornerstone of any good writing, finding that critical idea to bring up for discussion. As I think about thinking, which truth be told, I probably do more than I should, I realize that it is also time for a fresh start. As we move into April and kiss winter goodbye, I think about the progress we have made so far. Paul has a job, I have a job, we have a new take on how we intend to head toward retirement, and we have the house on the market. We are still mid-stream, not yet across the river. 

On the other side, we can see more stability, a better community for jobs, outdoor living, and activities, a small city with an airport that is positioned between the mountains and the desert. We are not yet where we need to be for better stability, and that leaves an unfinished feeling. But it is also an incredible time for a fresh start, for quiet reflection on what we have learned in the past two years and how we can use that learning to make our lives better.

Of course, travel is in the future, and no, we are not yet ready to pull the trigger, but we intend to plan anyway. There is a lot of unrest in the world right now, too. But I learned a long time ago that you don’t allow other people to dictate what you do and when. You will never get anywhere if you allow other people and their events to stop you from achieving your dreams. It isn’t the politics of the day that determine whether you go forward with your plans and achieve your dreams. Only you have that power, and that is incredible power when you think about it. It means you do not have to listen to the news in order to go forward with the life of your dreams.

This new Fresh Start energy is invigorating and gives me a renewed sense that I can and will create the life of my dreams. I can and will increase the inspiration in my life. I will put myself in places like Spain, where I can truly see a new perspective on things. I have not given up on retiring in Europe, and I will not allow other people, events, or situations to stop my plans. That little annoying voice in the back of my mind that tries to come up with all kinds of reasons why I should not pursue my dreams gets drowned out when I stop and notice how beautiful life is. 

Algarve Coastline Photo by Wendy Stieg