Inspiration is the Sincerest Form of Gratitude

Navigating Inspiration with Integrity

There’s a magic that happens when you stumble upon something that sets your mind ablaze, a line in a book, a scene from a film, or a snippet of an overheard conversation. You feel that familiar spark ignite, that rush of excitement that compels you to create something of your own. Inspiration strikes and you want to take advantage before the spark fizzles out.

I am amazed on a daily basis how my interactions on Substack inspire me, give me ideas, prompt me to give my take on an idea, or riff off someone else's work. The use of someone else's idea to jump start my own sometimes feels a bit naughty, like it's somehow plagiarism. I thought about this for a while before deciding that it isn’t theft; it’s gratitude in action. Inspiration, at its core, is a profound way of saying, “Thank you for showing me what’s possible.”

We're all familiar with the Oscar Wilde Quote:

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery."

Well, inspired by Wilde, I wanted to riff on that, turn it into something new.

I don't want to copy anyone, but I do often get inspired by the work of others to put my own take out there, and one such post by my friend

Alea Montañez

about why she started creating inspired me to share why I write.

Why do I Write?

This lead me to the thought: "Inspiration is the sincerest form of gratitude." and is what I would like to explore today.

Gratitude isn’t always a bouquet of flowers or a heartfelt thank you note. Sometimes, it’s picking up where someone else left off or taking their ideas and reshaping them into something uniquely yours. When we’re inspired, we’re not just admiring from afar; we’re engaging, collaborating, and honouring the work of others in the most tangible way. Inspiration, in this sense, becomes a deeply human and creative form of gratitude.

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Why Inspiration and Gratitude Are Intertwined

At first glance, inspiration might seem purely internal, something that just happens within your own brain; an idea strikes, and we’re off to the races. But I think that inspiration usually has external roots. It’s a connection to something beyond ourselves, be it another person’s work, nature’s beauty, or even a seemingly mundane observation that you can work with and eventually turn it into gold.

When someone’s idea or creation inspires us, they may never know it, but it’s their way of contributing to the collective human experience. In a way, they’ve handed us a baton in the relay race of creativity. To take that baton and run with it is an act of appreciation. We’re recognising the value of what they’ve offered and adding our voice to the ongoing conversation.

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Inspiration Is a Two-Way Street

When we build on someone else’s ideas, we’re not just benefiting ourselves, we’re amplifying their work, extending its reach, and sometimes even taking it to places they never envisioned. Consider how music evolves: a melody born in one genre often migrates, inspiring remixes, covers, and entirely new songs. Each iteration nods to the original, but also stands as its own expression. Daft Punk built an entire career from this, and other's even built on their work and the cycle of inspiration continued.

This exchange fosters a beautiful reciprocity. The person who inspired you might feel validated and celebrated, if of course you were to credit them. They see their spark lighting a fire in someone else and realise their efforts mattered. Your creation becomes a thank you note in action, a testament to the impact of their work.

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Navigating the Line Between Inspiration and Plagiarism

There is a fine line between inspiration and imitation. Authenticity is what keeps gratitude from turning into plagiarism. When you’re inspired, the goal isn’t to copy/paste someone else’s ideas into your own work; it’s to use their spark to ignite your own flame.

Thinking of it like cooking. You start with someone else’s recipe, but you tweak it, adding a pinch of this, a dash of that, substituting one ingredient for another and by the end, the dish still honours its origins, but it also bears your unique flavour, even if all you added was ketchup. That’s the sweet spot of authentic inspiration.

The Key Difference: Contribution vs. Copying

Inspiration builds; plagiarism takes without permission. When you take someone’s idea and add your unique perspective, you’re contributing to the collective creative pool. But if you simply replicate their work, it’s like photocopying a masterpiece and passing it off as your own.

Credit Where It’s Due

Inspiration shouldn’t shy away from acknowledging its roots. Whether it’s a shoutout in your work, a footnote, or a simple tip of the hat, true inspiration says, “This person lit the spark; here’s what I did with it.” Plagiarism, on the other hand, leaves that part out, pretending the lightbulb moment was entirely self-generated.

Originality in Execution

Inspiration transforms an idea; plagiarism transfers it. You might be inspired by a painter’s use of colour, but if you recreate their entire composition stroke for stroke, you’ve crossed the line into art forgery and you're going to jail. The key lies in reimagining, not replicating.

Intent Matters

The line also comes down to intent. If your goal is to pay homage and innovate, you’re likely in the realm of inspiration. But if you’re copying for convenience or profit, and not crediting the author you’re treading into plagiarism territory.

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My Own Creative Quandary

Recently, I found myself in this very dilemma. I came across a note by the incredibly talented

Virginia Curtis

that instantly inspired me.

I loved her idea and felt compelled to add my own thoughts. So, I restacked her note with my own perspective. At the time, it felt like a natural extension of the conversation she’d started. But afterwards, a sense of guilt crept in.

Did I just copy Virginia’s idea? Did I change just enough to claim it for myself? Should I have asked her first? My mind went in circles. I felt certain she would have said, “Go for it!” if I’d asked, but I also feel that she would have agreed anyway, even if she thought I was a thieving idea thief, because she’s nice like that. This uncertainty lingered, making me question the boundaries between inspiration and appropriation.

Reframing the situation helped. How many wizard stories came after Harry Potter? Were they copies or inspired creations? And how many stories pre-dated Harry Potter, influencing J.K. Rowling herself? There's nothing new under the sun, right? The creative world thrives on reimagining existing ideas. What matters is how we honour those who inspire us.

Ultimately, I concluded that I had acted with good intentions. I engaged with her work, credited her by restacking, and genuinely tried to contribute something new. If Virginia feels otherwise, I’d welcome her perspective and the opportunity to apologise, if necessary. But the momentary guilt I felt served as a reminder of the importance of respecting creative boundaries.

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How to Express Gratitude Through Inspiration

How do we ensure our inspired creations reflect genuine gratitude? Here are a few key principles:

1. Acknowledge Your Sources - Don’t shy away from giving credit where it’s due. A simple nod to the person or work that inspired you can go a long way. This isn’t just polite; it’s a way of strengthening the creative ecosystem by showing your audience who your idea came from. Chances are if they enjoy your work, thy will enjoy your momentary muse’s too.

2. Evolve the Idea - Take what inspired you and build upon it. Add your unique perspective, challenge the original concept, or apply it in a completely new context. The goal is to create something that feels fresh with your own stamp all over it, while still paying homage to its roots.

3. Share Your Work - By sharing your inspired creations, you’re not only contributing to the collective pool of ideas but also closing the gratitude loop. You’re saying, “This is what your work helped me create, and I hope it inspires someone else.” By sharing your work, you are also sharing the person who inspired you too.

4. Be Transparent About Your Process - When appropriate, share how you arrived at your idea. People love to hear the behind the scenes journey of inspiration and creation. It’s a way of demystifying the process and encouraging others to see how ideas can evolve.

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The Ripple Effect of Inspired Gratitude

The beauty of inspiration as gratitude lies in its ripple effect. When we honour someone’s work by building on it, we’re not just thanking them; we’re inspiring others. This cycle perpetuates creativity, turning isolated sparks into a blazing fire that illuminates entire communities.

In the digital age, this ripple effect is more visible than ever. A single inspired post, video, or creation can touch millions. It’s a humbling reminder of how interconnected we are, and how gratitude, expressed through inspiration, strengthens those connections.

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The Acorn Initiative 🌱

Imagine a single, thought provoking idea or quote shared out into the world, simple, inspiring, and full of potential. This idea is like an acorn.

When someone encounters it, they can build upon it in their unique way: adding their perspective, reshaping it, or even challenging it. They restack the idea, add their own spin, and inspire the next wave of creativity. Each time it’s shared or remixed, it grows, branching out, evolving, and connecting with new minds.

Over time, these contributions form an "idea tree." The original thought is the acorn, and every restack or reimagining becomes part of the trunk, branches, and leaves. The tree expands organically, showing how a single idea can evolve, fork in new directions, and maybe even circle back to its origin in surprising ways.

What’s fascinating is the hidden life of the idea. In the digital world, we rarely see how an idea travels, changes, and blossoms through different people’s interpretations. Imagine if there were a way to trace the roots, to follow the path of an idea from the further most leaves back to the acorn that started it. Or the other way from its seed to the sprawling tree it becomes. You could see not just who engaged with it, but how they shaped it, layer by layer.

That’s the heart of The Acorn Initiative: planting ideas and watching them grow, not just outward, but through the connections they create. Most of us do this every time we post something, but it’s difficult after the first layer to see how far our influence spreads. I’d love to see the “root trace” feature on

Substack

as a discovery engine.

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Inspiration isn’t just a feeling; it’s an action. It’s a way of showing gratitude that goes beyond words, transforming admiration into creation. By building on the ideas that move us, we not only honour those who came before us but also contribute something meaningful to the world.

So the next time you feel that spark, don’t just sit on it. Create, evolve, and share. Let your inspired work be a heartfelt thank you to those who lit the way.