Be....(fill in the blank)

Once I chose the word inspiring. Of course this thought provoking word provoked thought, and dictionary.com fed live.

in·spire ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-spr)v. in·spired, in·spir·ing, in·spires v. tr.
To affect, guide, or arouse by divine influence.
To fill with enlivening or exalting emotion: hymns that inspire the congregation; an artist who was inspired by Impressionism.
To stimulate to action; motivate: a sales force that was inspired by the prospect of a bonus.
To affect or touch: The falling leaves inspired her with sadness.
To draw forth; elicit or arouse: a teacher who inspired admiration and respect.
To be the cause or source of; bring about: an invention that inspired many imitations.
To draw in (air) by inhaling.
Archaic.
To breathe on.
To breathe life into. v. intr.
To stimulate energies, ideals, or reverence: a leader who inspires by example.
To inhale.

"Pink Floyd legend Syd Barrett dies" was a headline just the other day. What has he have to do with the word 'inspiring'. Well, he was an origional member of the band. The hit song "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" was about him, according to this article. His unique take on perspective of life, and not always legally, has left several notables in the music industry have him as they're brilliant light of inspiration.

Are there merits to being 'inspiring'? Are there disadvantages? What or who's to say 100 years from now the notable musicians of today who were inspired by this person would be considered a nobody, whilst he who inspired became the master. Monet, Manet, Degas, Cassatt, Picasso, Pissero are just those (and for those who don't know they are the salt of the Impressionist artist), are a prime source of the word. They who suffered starvation, social miscast, exaggerations of emotions and famlial differences; but greatness was not to be deterred. They went on continuing what their spirit made them; their bliss, and in the meantime changed the art world whether it liked it or not.

Did they regret it? I don't think they had a choice. Was it worth it to be 'it'? Well we'll never know from them personally, however their takes of choices made in their living years may have kept them yearning; but their divine inpiration lives on. After all when something beautiful has touched a soul it then lives on eternally.

Personally I'm not sure I want the dual edge of 'being inspiring'. Dual? Yes, by being an example of what not to be or do, however, and the 'masters' proved it again and again, Frank Lloyd Wright being one, you can't have one without the other. But then again, is there really an option?