At Beforest, we view ‘Inspiration’ in two parts: Inspired “BY”, is what moves and illuminates us. And Inspired TO”, is what we choose to do next.
Think of a moment or time when you felt “inspired”. Maybe by a wonderful teacher, a great leader, a losing cricket match won, an Olympic feat, a spectacular stage performance, a piece of music, a masterpiece of cinema, a book, or by the simple wonders of nature. That experience, even if for a moment, would have stayed with you. This is what inspiration feels like.
If you look more closely into that moment, two simple things would have likely happened. One, it would have evoked a strong sense of connection. And tugged at the heart. Second, you saw something new that you did not think of or know before. A new possibility. It illuminated the mind. And this is why the experience has stayed with you – it touched your heart and lit up your mind.
In simple words, inspiration is a sense of hope and purpose. More often than not, however, it stops there. The feeling and illumination remain within us and may not translate beyond.
At Beforest, we view ‘Inspiration’ in two parts: Inspired “BY”, is what moves and illuminates us. And Inspired TO”, is what we choose to do next. The second part is equally or even more important because we believe that inspiration should not merely stop at being within us. It needs to grow beyond us. This matters.
In ecological restoration and environmental regeneration, the work done at our Collectives; it is not enough to simply feel or understand. Bringing and living a real change requires taking the next step. It needs action and shared responsibility.
Is there a time when you have visited any of our Collectives and not felt moved, connected or inspired by the silence and quietude, the fresh air and greenery, the calls of birds, the sight of fireflies, the croaking of toads, the sky full of stars, the sound and smell of rain, or simply the beauty of the terrain? All of what you are ‘Inspired BY’ here also invites you to move into an ‘Inspired TO’ – to protect and conserve – to co-exist.
If we have to shape the Collective that we aspire for, it may not be enough for inspiration to move us, it must also move through us. Only then will we arrive at a place, the “Collective” that we want it to “Be”, a place where nature and all of us truly co-exist.
