Staying Inspired
The Breath of God

Above all, I’m inspired by people. I love reading them, each one a book with colorful chapters. Maybe it’s bigger than that. They are worlds, and the deeper I dive into exploration, the further I’m removed from my selfish and narrow point of view. I think that’s the point, really. To step outside of myself and my preconceived notions. To leave my comfort zone. That’s why traveling is rife with rich inspiration. Not only am I physically immersed in a new environment, I have to butt against cultural differences and language barriers. I can’t help but be changed and to turn my perspective (the neighborhoods look different when you drive on the other side of the road). Of course, in different parts of the world, people’s stories carry different flavors and aromas from those back home. I return to LA with a more refined and nuanced palate for the human condition. And then I like to share what I’ve learned – and who I’ve met – through the mediums of clothing, film, photography, and writing.

There are never enough people to meet, so I am rarely lacking inspiration. But, I am also inspired by complete stories told through books and films. Music, also. I was just telling my children the other day that nothing can turn a day around like the right song. I surf in the mornings and it demands my full attention. The water is cold, I have to time the waves correctly – it can mean the difference between the ride of a lifetime and being crushed by a waterfall. Standing atop a wave, however, I feel like that’s as close as I’ll get to flying. I am inspired by wit and humor. I find them in people, but also in the charm and wiles of everyday life. I believe they come from God, so yes, I believe in God and mysticism as well, and perhaps that’s the greatest source of inspiration. The etymology breaks the literal translation of “inspiration” as the “breath of God.” I believe that if God is all around us, then so is inspiration. So, we have to be open to it and take the time to observe it, and if we’re smart enough, know how to harness it.