"a moment of inspiration", or "on following fear"

Over the past few days I attended my first official library conference-- The Texas Library Association Annual Meeting, 2009. Day 1 was a fury of digitization-related presentations, Day 2 gave me some archives themed choices. Today there were fewer things I was interested in, but today was also the 2nd general session, featuring guest speaker (there really should be a drum roll here) GLORIA STEINEM. I was thrilled.
General session number 1 featured Paula Poundstone, whom I found disappointing in spite of being entertaining. There really wasn't much of a point to anything she said. But Gloria Steinem I had high expectations for, and I know enough about her to know they would probably be met.
I don't want to summarize her whole speech, but I will say that she emphasized the importance of libraries to our society and to creating equality for all people. She pointed out that when we speak of civilizations being destroyed, the biggest losses we recognize are the civilization's libraries (and archives, I must add). I will say that I feel inspired by the knowledge that the obstacles I've been wrapping my words around and pushing through in my notebook (the beast of complacency and writing in its yawning face) must be sort of universal because she acknowledged that she often feels she doesn't do enough of her own writing, that she lets it fall by the wayside when things get comfortably busy. I will say that I remain impressed by her ability to hold "controversial" political views and deliver points that even her political oposites could take home and agree with. I will say that tonight ranks in my memory with seeing Jane Goodall speak, with meeting Dar Williams. I just hope I continue to amass such experiences.
From my notebook musings earlier: sometimes I think I was just born lucky because, as much inspiration as I draw from women like Gloria Steinem, I can't look behind me without seeing generations of amazing and equally inspriational women who have led me to be exactly who I am.