No limitations: Nico and Paddy in Tu Si Que Vales

75-year old Paddy Jones and her 35 year old partner, Nico, a local dance school instructor, performed and went on to win Spain's national talent competition Tu Si Que Vales (You're really worth it). Tu Si Que Vales is the Spanish equivalent of Britain's Got Talent. To the amazement of the judges, the dance routine Paddy and Nico performed was salsa acrobatica. This is not just a salsa routine, which is hard enough in and of itself, but salsa with acrobatics in it!



CNN calls Jones, "Spain's answer to Susan Boyle." The hearts of millions were touched as we watched and listened to Susan Boyle's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream." Boyle's new album, "hit the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart with 701,000 copies sold in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan." [CNN, 12/11/09]. Boyle's album is currently available at amazon.com.

I am a always on the lookout for inspiring and empowering instances where people break through expectations and outdo themselves. In so doing they inspire me and probably countless others to not let our circumstances stiffle and keep us in our own individual ruts.

What inspires you? What have you read or seen lately that has touched your soul and motivated you to try harder, go further, attempt more? Write back and let us know.

Whitney Houston - I Didn't Know My Own Strength

Whitney Houston's "I didn't know my own strength," is inspiring to me. The song comes from her 7th studio album, "I Look to you."



The complete lyrics to Whitney's song are posted at the Music Videos and Lyrics - Music Lovers Group site. Here are just some of the lines that touched me the most, though I found the entire song a testament to the power of the human spirit.

Lost touch with my soul. I had no where to turn...Lost sight of my dream, Thought it would be the end of me. I thought I’d never make it through. I had no hope to hold on to...I didn’t know my own strength. Found hope in my heart, I found the light to life, My way out the dark. Found all that I need, Here inside of me...I didn't kow my own strength. My faith kept me alive, I picked myself back up, Hold my head up high, I was not built to break. I didn’t know my own strength.

The lyrics of Whitney's song, and the way she's appropriating them to her own life, remind me of the passage, "No test that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face." The message is true to her life. It certainly can be true of each of our lives as well.

Here's to all of us tapping into our own inner strengths.