For 2010 – 10 Unusual Places To Get Inspired For The New Year

As my peers get older the more I hear them say the same words at this time of year. People often comment on how fast the year has passed. I don’t think that this kind of speedy time passing has anything to do with having a good time. I believe it has more to do with not taking the time to absorb and all the wonderful trials and tribulations of life.

So many things happen at such a fast rate that we almost can’t keep up. That’s why it’s good to make a note of events and achievements over the last year. If you intend to make resolutions then I believe they require two key ingredients to work:

1. To know where you were so that you know how far you’ve come already.

2. I believe it’s of utmost importance that the goals inspire you and fill you with excitement and passion. If it doesn’t it will fail and there will be very little you can do about that.

But lets forget resolutions ‘coz everyone’s talking about them and I like to be different! 😛 If it’s inspired though that you’d like to be, then here’s my list of the 10 best places to receive that inspiration.

Lets do a countdown…

10. The Toilet

Oh come on, you knew that was going to be in the list somewhere! 😆 I know that we all have the amazing streams of inspiration that have hit us when we’ve been passing motions. It’s uncanny that ejecting that waste seems to make some sort of space for new ideas to enter the mind and body! Maybe it’s one of Gods practical jokes…ha ha very funny big man!

9. Go Somewhere Wet

There’s something so soothing about staring and listening to water. There’s an app you can get for smartphones called White Noise that you can use to generate various sounds to sooth your mood or fall asleep to. There are a few water options; there’s the trickling stream or the lapping of the ocean. Both give you the impression that you’re near some sort wet body. Or just get off that butt and go take a walk by a river…now there’s a thought! Here’s a song that will get you thinking while you’re there.

8. Staring At Indian Traffic

Ok, bear with me on this one! While I was India recently I was on a balcony staring at the traffic. There’s nothing quite like watching people, bikes, mopeds, rikshaws, cars and trucks all jostling for space on the bumpy roads and not using any sort of discernable traffic system that one can ascertain. They just all go for it! There’s something just so incredibly hypnotic about it. I’ve just uploaded a quick 30 second capture I got from my trip.

7. Playing Poker

I’ve had some pretty profound revelations whilst playing poker. Both winning and losing are great teachers and I think the reason poker is so popular these days is that because it is such a powerful representation of life. There’s an excerpt from the poem ‘If’ by Rudyard Kipling that is along the same lines: –

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;

6. In The Shower

Have you ever been in the shower and got water to the exact temperature that you like, so much so, that you almost don’t want to get out? It puts you into such a relaxed state that when you finish you feel like you’re ready to take on the world. It’s easy to get carried away in that feeling so just remember to put your clothes back on afterwards! 😉

5. Taking A Walk…On The Wild Side

Going for a walk in nature and observing how animals behave always gets me thinking. I’m sure you’ve all stopped to watch that squirrel as it was scurrying around search for it’s nuts. I was at a wildlife park recently with lions and tigers and in particular there were these two baby white tigers there just playing and having hours of fun with a ball. I could happily stand there and watch them for hours. At one point I was even contemplating catnapping them! So cute!

4. Sipping On Some Darjeerling Or Espresso In An Uptown Cafe

I can’t really work at home. It’s not just the distractions but I just find that when I know I have things to do that are there that I have to do them. I much prefer to go to a cafe, order my soya hot chocolate, switch on my laptop and get writing! I enjoy people watching and sometimes that gets my creative juices flowing and it sparks an idea or some thought that leads to my next blog post! There’s always something going on. I just find it exciting to be there.

3. Listening To Music

I’ll be following up on this with some deeper insights in the new year but for me, music gets me inspired. Various types of music seem to give me that zing and get new ideas coming to me. In particular, pop music, both contemporary and ol’ skool give me a buzz that always get me jazzed up for the tasks ahead, or when I’m out running. Don’t get too carried away though, just a couple of months ago I was on the tube and on my iPhone this song came on and I just had to shake my booty. Everyone was watching…but I didn’t care! 😛

2. Stargazing

About 10 years ago I just decided to go camping by myself one day. I drove to the campsite and when I arrived it was dark and it wasn’t going to be easy to get the tent up. It was such a beautiful night that I decided not to bother putting the tent up and I just decided to sit on the hood of my car and stargaze. I fell asleep there and woke up in the morning. To this day it’s one of my favorite things I’ve ever done. Staring at the stars just always somehow puts things into perspective.

1. Driving

Driving has got to be the place where I receive my biggest and best inspirations and ideas! Driving is a recreational thing to me. I get so many ideas whilst in my driving trance that I sometimes don’t get a chance to write them all down and I often forget them by the time I arrive at my destination! 😛 That’s beside the point though. If I’m ever constipated for ideas then I jump in my old banger BMW and go for an midnight exploration!

What unusual places or activities get you inspired? Happy new year everyone and have an amazing 2010!

47 Responses

  1. Kavita says:

    he he he! Great ideas amit! For women, i would add; when your putting on your make up, as you spend alot of time examining your face, sometimes for a breif second you look beyond your eyes and start reminising…..it’s no wonder us girls take so long to get ready huh!!!! 😉

    Peace and Blessings! xxx

    • Amit Sodha says:

      That’s an excellent idea kav! What’s the best inspiration you’ve had while putting on your make up? No doubt some make up artists have come up with some great make up ideas while doing just that!

  2. Quinn says:

    Walking is one of my favorite activities for developing new ideas and finding out what I am relay thinking. When it comes to inspiration you just can’t beat a shower. I would add listing to others to the list as well since you never know when a random comment will set the brain wandering down the road to inspiration.
    .-= Quinn´s last blog ..Do what you want with wisdom =-.

    • Amit Sodha says:

      Hey Quinn,

      I love walking aswell and I have some truly amazing insights while my big size 13’s have been pounding the curb. Listening is another great suggestion too, just the other day I was chatting to a close friend and it got my brain swirling with ideas!

  3. Anastasiya says:

    Great list Amit. I especially like wet places (whether it is a river or a shower) and nature, they give the most inspiration to me. I also get inspired when I go running (it does not really matter where I run,the main thing is to avoid a treadmill) or vacuum the house and wash dishes.
    That’s a great post to come back to in 2010 when I am low on inspiration 🙂
    .-= Anastasiya´s last blog ..How to Make Resolutions that Work =-.

    • Amit Sodha says:

      I find housework theraputic and it also often gets my creative juices flowing. A big one for me is ironing. Not something I do as much of these days but in the old days I used to a lot and it always gave me lots of ideas!

  4. Amit I loved this unusual list. I can confirm that the toilet can be a great source of inspiration 😀
    .-= Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..Rationale Thinking and the Scientific Method =-.

  5. Swati says:

    Walking, on journeys in cars/trains, washing up, in the shower, that place between being awake and asleep and on the swings 🙂

  6. Hulbert says:

    Hi Amit. Very cool post! Yes, although I was one of the people who thought the year went by fast, when I take the time to go back and reflect the small moments, they are much more meaningful to me than the period of time. Just like you, I like taking a shower, playing poker, and getting some coffee at a cafe. They are all very thought absorbing. Hope you have a happy new year!

    P.S. That traffic in India was crazy! Thanks for sharing that. 🙂

  7. Swati says:

    oh and when your having your hair done at the hairdressers …. maybe it’s all things relaxing and calming

  8. Hi Amit.

    That Indian traffic sure does put you into a trance to watch. I’m sure I would get used to it at some point but 30 seconds of it was not enough for that.

    The shower sure does provide quite a bit of inspiration. It is there that we sometimes get our best thoughts, and then come booming out of there to work on them. It’s also nice to come out refreshed.

    Driving sure does provide inspiration, as we see all kinds of things, and have no choice but to think a bit.

    All valid examples of inspiring places here.

    To Amit for expanding our horizons in 2010~
    .-= Armen Shirvanian´s last blog ..Timeless Information 2009 Review =-.

  9. amanda@choosing-life-my-way.com says:

    Amit,
    I really agree with a couple of the places you listed. Walking in nature is definitely fantastic.. I love wandering around the marina and along the oceanfront. I haven’t experienced Indian traffic, but the traffic in Taiwan is definitely crazy! This makes driving here an exercise in faith and concentration, although a few inspired thoughts can pop in at the red lights (which of course no-one else stops at!). I am so glad I found your blog- you have enriched my life in 2009, and I will look forward to more great reads in 2010. Happy New Year!!

    • Amit Sodha says:

      Thank you for the beautiful sentiment Amanda, I have been perusing your site too and I just want to say thank you for all the comments and input you’ve given me this year!

      The Taiwan traffic sounds just as bad, but just as hypnotic as the indian traffic! 🙂

      Have a wonderful new year!

  10. Hi Amit,

    My showering time is usually so full of inspiration that showering is one of the most productive things I do on some days! It seems all my best ideas happen when I’m in hot water, lol.

    I also get inspired while talking to friends – often the best stuff that I didn’t know I knew comes out of my mouth while I’m talking on the phone.

    Blessings,
    Andrea
    .-= Andrea Hess|Empowered Soul´s last blog ..How To Stop Settling for Less in 2010 =-.

  11. Mamta says:

    Hello Amit, I love the little clip of Indian traffic chaos. I find myself easily thinking outside the box when I naturally zone myself out of the madness. Excellent tips for an inspirational new year! Happy 2010 🙂

  12. Kaushik | beyond-karma.com says:

    That’s funny about Indian traffic, and so true! I love traveling in India. I’m not sure what it is…maybe the impossible hustle and bustle, the complete disregard for any sort of traffic rules, everything is on the road, trucks, cars, rickshas, scooters, bikes, cows, goats, camels…I don’t know, but it’s quite mesmerizing. I love the streets, the trains…there is the full spectrum of life right out in front in India.

    Great list. I might add to the list: a brisk nap!

    k
    .-= Kaushik | beyond-karma.com´s last blog ..Radical Transformation =-.

  13. Amit Sodha says:

    Hey Kaushik,

    I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds it totally fascinating! I was in India recently totally lost in thought while I was observing traffic and then I came out of my trance, I turned and there was this bull standing right next to me…something that doesn’t happen in London everyday! LOL Can’t wait to hear your ideas too!

  14. Mighty says:

    the toilet!! LOL! I swear, I have had some good ideas in the toilet and I actually look for a pen to write something on a tissue paper! 😀

    Mighty

  15. Deb/AskYourSpirit says:

    Hi Amit,
    Your post suits me perfectly because it is something I have to do in order to get ideas.The beach(been meaning to go all day), sipping coffee at my favorite coffee shop, and stargazing are by far my basic requirements to get my thoughts in order.Love your humor!
    Deb

    • Amit Sodha says:

      Hey Deb,

      I enjoy going to the beach too, not something I do that often but there’s something so calming and invigorating about going to the beach on a warm summers day, taking your shoes off and walking at the edge of the ocean! 🙂

  16. aDeeb says:

    Finally someone else who gets that the toilet seat is indeed the most inspiring place in all of the known universe. My only complain is that I wish they made adjustable toilet seats. Maybe I should patent that. 😛

    Only we of South Asian origin can truly appreciate what a piece of art the traffic jam is. It is like an unrehearsed orchestra. I miss traffic jams.
    .-= New at aDeeb’s blog ..Rockstar101: Lost! =-.

  17. skittles234 says:

    Omg that traffic scene was hilarious!! I pictured myself driving and screaming “aaahh im gona die today!!!” I find stuff like that quite entertaining, im almost inspired to create a disciplined traffic system but we all know no-one there wud abide lol… Hell they’ve even got zebra crossings but the motorists just zoom past it like nobody’s business!

    Hehe u shud write a blog on the real power of a shower as I get inspired there too!

    However my sources of inspiration lie in public places like parks, schools, social events, and believe it or not, libraries 😉 wen I observe people’s interactions with each other or with the environment they’re in, I immediately get inspired to introduce new ways of making that place more beautiful/efficient…

    Love ur article dude really generates some food for thought…

    P.s. I love ironing, it’s monotonous but wen I put my headphones on, im in a world of my own! 😉 xx

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