The Help question

My 13 year old daughter inspires me. She makes all A's, plays the cello and French horn in the honors orchestra and band--in spite of dyslexia. She is determined and does not give up!

Im proud for having a very classical answer;"my mother". They are cherished figures that walk with us throughout our most significant milestones.

My mother battled with severe depression and panic attacks since i was 7. For me it was so difficult to understand how much she hurt, because she didn't look sick, it was such a silent, corrosive condition that almost took all her ability to be emotionally there for me and my siblings. After being hospitalized, she became so determined to fight, or go insane trying. I NEVER,NEVER understood how much it takes to fight your own mind until i was diagnosed with chronic depression myself. She is not around to read this.But, Mom:thank you for not giving in to your world, for not giving up on me,for offering me those weak, yet soulful smiles that were both a plea and an apology.

I grew up in hope that i could one day shed some light to those who share this pain and are still so misunderstood by society,to the lack of sympathy because its not a physical condition,to acknowledge how hard is to be your own enemy.

Now, as a clinician every time i see a patient in their inner struggle, i can tell them from the bottom of my heart that I DO understand, that I DO care for their well being more than they can understand. Sometimes, they offer me a faint smile.And I see your face; the face of hope.

My son Aaron inspires me. He was born suffering from asphyxia at birth and almost didn't make it. He has a diagnosis of PPD (pervasive development syndrome). Yet he has an infectious laugh and superseded all expectations following his birth. Although he has never learned to read he can work any kind of television, DVR equipment and since being introduced to to YouTube entertains himself finding all his favorite songs and movie clips. He's a loving person and quite the charmer.

david wrote: "In THE HELP, three very different, extraordinary women in 1960s Mississippi build a friendship around a secret writing project that breaks societal rules and puts them all at risk.

Tell us abou..."

I grew up in the 1960"s in the South and The Help took me down memory lane, as I remembered the wonderful women that had worked for my Aunt and my Mother throughout the years.

At age 18 & alone, my Grandmother came to the U.S. from Lithuania. She married & raised 8 children on a farm. My family lived just across the field from her home & we used any excuse to visit her. She always had a slice of just baked bread or cookies for us. We helped her milk the cows and then make butter. She never had much money but her life was rich with love. Grandma will always be my inspiration to live life to the fullest.

My grandfather, at age 25, married my grandmother, taking on her three daughters as his own. He fathered them, worked incredibly hard at his job, and served his country during the Vietnam War, doing it all with a sense of humor and a gentle touch.

My good friend's daughter recently graduated from college. Some time after her birth, she was diagnosed with an often fatal condition known as SMA, or spinal muscular atrophy. Although her sister died from the disease (she was born before diagnosis of either child) and her mother, tragically, was killed in an accident (vehicle related) her father did an awesome job of being both mother and father to her. Athough the child, now a young woman (well beyond voting and drinking! age) is an inspiration to hundred of parents whose children receive a similar diagnosis (the value of hope cannot be quantified, but it is mighty high) it is her father I write about. He never saw this child as handicapped, and indeed, she is not. I admire them both.

My nine year old daughter inspires me. She is the most giving of all people without a want in return. One day a friend suggested she cut and donate her hair to charity to get her picture in the town paper. She came home upset and said "when you give to someone you're not supposed to do it to get something back". I sat and listened to her share her sentiments.

A few days later she and I watched an HBO special on locks for love and she turned to me and said she is ready to cut her hair, for the first time in her life, and donate it to locks for love. She did have one stipulation, that there are no pictures and no town newspaper. So as i sat next to her, tears running down my face, knowing how grown up she is becoming, she actually cut enough of her knee length hair to make two donations. A few months later, she came back to me and wanted to do it again.

She brought tears to my eyes, not only because she cut her long beautiful hair, which she was known for, but of ow selfless she was without desire of anything back. It was nice to see for a change. I always worry when I see teens walking around the city believing the world owes them, but when I heard my daughter express herself, I knew, I knew there was hope left.

My mother spent part of her childhood in an orphanage after her mom died of cancer. Her dad lost the house and his savings paying for her medical bills. My mom taught me to never take others for granted or to think you are better than someone just because you have certain advantages. She also never turns her back on her family and supports us no matter what. I am very lucky to have such a caring, selfless mom!

My friends inspire me. The love, loyalty, and companionship they provide me with on a day to day basis gets me through. I don't have much in the way of family around where I am, and their friendship means the world to me.

No matter what they have going on in their own lives, they take the time to make me feel as though my problems (whatever they may be) are the most important thing in the world to them at that moment. They push me to be the best person that I can, and the best friend back to them.

My grandmother is the one person whom has inspired me the most. She taught me how to be a strong independent woman. She was a mother to 14 children and was a stay at home mom who took care of everything. She showed me that I was stronger than I thought by encouraging me when times got tough. She also showed me that weakness is not a bad thing, that it is okay to accept help when you need it.

My dear friend Shaunna always inspires me...whether we talk every day or every few months. She is gentle and kind, and everything she says she says in love, even if it's difficult. She is encouraging, honest, and funny. She loves me without judgement and expectation. She is a true friend who sees in me, an ordinary woman, something extraordinary and who tells me so often. She inspires me to grow, to laugh, to follow Christ more closely and to seek my dreams, despite my discouragement or disablilities. She is amazing...as a friend and as a woman. My dear sister.

My mother is an immigrant from St. Lucia, who came to this country to make a better life for her family. In her country, she was a lady, well respected by the community, well bred and intelligent. When she came to the US, she was treated as if she were servant, stupid and insignificant, all because of the color of her skin. She raised us with with grace and dignity, teaching me that no matter what role society tries to pigeonhole you, you can raise yourself up, be strong and true to yourself.

Enjoyed reading the book. Very entertaining and enlightening.

My grandmothers inspired me. Both were divorced working mothers at a time when people didn't divorce. They took care of their children and then their grandchildren (of which there were four and I am the oldest). They always had time for us even though they worked hard. They instilled in both my parents not only a sense of hard work but a love for our family even though they were children of divorce. My parents were married 54 years when my dad died and my mother is still going strong. A tribute to both their mothers as well as themselves.

It is the small things, where someone stands up to someone, that is omparable to what the women in The Help did. I knew of a young boy with a mean teacher in fourth grade, who was picking on a little boy and asked the class what they thought she should do about his bad behaviour? This little boy wasn't doing anything bad, he was just young and had ants in his pants. The other little boy bravely said, "I think you should just leave him alone". That took a lot of guts, as this was early on in the school year and the teacher had all the power. I was impressed!

My grandpa is someone that I always remember as giving the best advice. He didn't have money but to me was the richest man ever. He was humble, honest and hard working. Always happy and friendly. He has been gone for 6 years and I will forever be greatful for the lessons that he has instilled in me. I love you grandpa.

I inspire me, why I'm strong, warm and I always keep a smile on my face.

I am always impressed by the children I encounter everytime I go to Uganda. They are poor, some with health problems that would get any one down, but yet they are always smiling. They are some of the strongest kids I have ever met.

A friend that inspired me other than my mother would have to be Judy. You could always go into Judy's home and you knew that you were an extended member of the family. She was so giving and such a fun person. She made me laugh while I was going through my first Christmas as an orphan. It involved homeade highlights that didn't get finished because phone was constantly ringing from her children or her friends that checked in on her. Judy was loved by all that knew her. She passed away a couple of years ago, and I miss going to visit and talking with her about different things. She was like a mother to me. Love you Judy, and thank you for inspiring me!

My Gran. Her love was unconditional. Each of her grandchildren were made to feel special and loved and I loved her so much. I think every child should have someone that loves them for who they are, makes them feel special and who will be there if needed.

She has inspired me to be the best Auntie I can be, I have a wonderful relationship with my nieces and nephew. If I give them a 10th of what my Gran gave me I think I am doing well. I also volunteer as a friend/mentor for a young girl in long-term foster care and will apply to adopt in the not too distant future. All because my Gran loved me and showed me the love that children respond to, even when they have loving parents.

I miss you Gran xxx.

My brother is a ravenous reader who inspired me to read and learn every day of my life.

My best friend for the last 29 years was diagnosed with non Hodgkin's lymphoma when she was 16 yrs old. She went thru chemotherapy, radiation and lost all of her hair. The doctors also told her she would never have children. Her son is 20 yrs old and 6 foot something. In 2003 she had a stroke and is completely paralyzed on her right side. She drives and learned to write with her left hand. She is awesome and never gives up.

My grandmother inspired me. She became a dietician. Later she married and had four children. My grandfather was an alcoholic, so she divorced him. Her family insisted she move back to Montana so they could help her - translation raise her kids and tell her what to do. She took the children home for a visit, interviewed for some jobs, and one night packed the kids in the car and drove back to California. She raised 4 wonderful children working first as a dietician and later as a social worker. She was one of the first women in California to serve on the alter in the Catholic church as both a lector and a Eucharistic minister.
Later she helped hand out commodities to low income people who qualified. She figured out that most of them didn't know what to do with the food that they were being given. So she used her training as a dietician and created recipies and taught them how to cook.
she was amazing and an inspiration to me and my family in so many ways. I wish my children had been old enough to know her before she died.

My mom was an amazing woman. She raised me alone after our house caught fire in 1980 taking the lives of my father and sister. She rebuilt us a home, and a life. At the time I was 13 and she raised me through school - always putting me ahead of her own needs.
When she died in a car crash in 1996 with my step dad, I was 29 and had a family of my own.

She taught me how to stand up for what was right and I am a strong person today mostly from what she taught me about being an independent woman.