In the company of some, we walk away feeling inspired, awed by the amazing person someone can be. With Celeste Mergens, those who meet her leave feeling that they are amazing people. Mergens gives a confidence that convinces any person that he or she can do anything if they put their hearts and minds into it.

Writing recently about Mergens, Konda Kearton, a South Whidbey real estate broker, details how this can be.

“Celeste believes in the power each of us has to create. She’s a leader helping many people achieve what may have seemed impossible before. She shows people how to turn random acts into a cohesive force. She’s a problem solver. Her vision six years ago created a nationally acclaimed yearly Writers Conference.”

Recently, the writers conference spawned an even more ambitious project. Mergens and the WIWA organization are in the midst of getting a masters-level creative writing program certified by the state. If all goes to plan, the program — though which classes will be taught primarily over the Internet — will be housed in a large bed and breakfast the writing program would purchase.

Mergens said it is the South Whidbey community and 22 core volunteers that has made this vision come true.

However the Writers Conference is not an isolated community involvement for Mergens.

She and her husband, Don, not only are raising six children of their own; they also provide a safe home for other kids. Mergens has volunteered for the schools, her church, Red Cross, for the environment, and many other organizations and causes.

Mergens says she is convinced one person can make a huge difference.

“Of course not without the help of other people,” she said. “We constantly touch each other’s lives.”

Mergens said two teachers changed her life with a simple gesture. One asked her “Have you ever thought of being a writer?” and told her she had a flair for it. Another teacher matted every piece in her art class.

“Oh yeah, I believe one person can make a huge difference alright,” Mergens said.

Two other people inspire her by their actions. She once read about a man who was burned beyond recognition, and lost both his arms and legs.

“He was in intensive care for five years,” she said. “If anyone had permission to give up on life, he did, yet he remained grateful for what he did have. He lived out a happy productive life. Isn’t that huge? Gratitude is a powerful choice.”

Another example for Mergens is Andrea Clay of Greenbank, due to her love for animals. Clay rescued 37 lab rabbits, and they all run around her home happy, free and loved, still with wires and tubes surgically implanted in them.

As she looks to others for inspiration, Mergens provides an example those around her follow. Her 19-year-old son, Dane, said during a recent interview that her children especially look up to her.

“We are all really proud of mom. She’s a compassionate, inspirational and busy lady, but she always makes time for us,” he said.

Mergens couldn’t be anything but.

“The truth is my children and husband Don have an amazing amount of humor, patience, understand, and an attitude of love.”

Mergens said her 13-year-old son, Ray, tells people “It’s great having a mom that’s a writer. You can ask things like, ‘Mom, can I get a Kawasaki 5000?’ ”

He said she typically answers questions like this with a, “Sure honey, just be sure to brush your teeth first.”

That is until she stops writing and realizes what she said.

Sometimes the kids will stop Mergens during one of her home volunteer projects and say, “OK, mom, enough now. We need a little attention over here.”

She is famous in her family for her $5 meals. The phrase was lovingly coined by the Mergens children describing meals she served that the kids said they would pay $5 dollars if they didn’t have to eat them.

That thought sets Mergens laughing.

“It’s true I’m a real lousy cook, but the kids have become good cooks because of my failing,” she said.

Then she giggled in a Cinderella Fairy-God Mother voice and said, “See there is always a silver lining.”

Even her family van license plate says GRATI2D. That fits Mergens perfectly, she is grateful for everything.

Daughter Ashley, a 17 year old senior at South Whidbey High School, is inspired by this attitude.

“Mom is selfless and unconditional in all aspects of her life,” she said. “She has this creative ability to make the best out of everything, to make challenges appear as blessings, and mistakes seem like another chance to do better. I guess I just got very lucky to have the mom I have.”

Outwardly, Mergens is so positive that one would think her life has been carefree. But that’s not so. Her childhood was fraught with severe abuse, frequent moves and inadequate food and clothing. For her, childhood was an exercise in survival. At age 13 Mergens choose to work full time as a roofer to help the family. Only by the grace of God, she said, and the benefits of writing and music was she able to rise above this experience.

“I had two choices,” she said. “I could either make the world pay for the pain that my siblings and I experienced, or I could commit to helping to make the world a better place for other children.”

Before moving to Whidbey Island, Mergens volunteered in politics. She is a self-described pure nonpartisan. She was particularly interested in government waste. While listening one day to a San Diego, Calif., radio call-in program about this waste, she called the radio announcer and asked “Want to come to a tea party?”

The radio announcer laughed and replied, “Gee with crumpets and everything?”

Mergens was actually talking about a Boston tea party. Nine days later, she had organized a gathering of 4,000 people, including radio stations personalities, TV stations, newspapers, and elected officials. They called themselves “We the People” and the organization grew and grew. One year later, Mergens was asked to run for Congress. But at the time, that was something she couldn’t do. We the People was getting to big for a mother of young children to lead, so she and her family moved to Whidbey Island.

“I couldn’t do that with our wee ones to take care of,” she said. “They were the top priority.”

It was a good move for all involved. Vicki Staley, a case manager for Senior Services of Island County said the Mergens’ arrival paid dividends for the most infirm of South Whidbey’s senior citizens. Upon arriving on the island, they ran the Freeland Care Center from 1991 until 1997, giving it a home-like feeling, Staley said. Celeste Mergens painted and decorated each room.

“My neighbor’s father was their first Alzheimer’s resident,” Staley said. “Celeste promised my neighbor that her Dad could stay there for the duration of his life. She made a promise and kept it. And believe me he was a handful.”

The Mergens loved the people in their care center, so much that they took the remaining residents home to live out their lives with them in their home after the Freeland center closed.

“For six years Celeste and her husband and children treated my mother like their own family, in fact they called her Grandma.” said Mary Fisher, a hospice volunteer. “When it came near the end of my mother’s life, I came and stayed with their family for several days and nights. What a joy to spend time with this family who treated death just like a part of life.”

Marian Blue, a South Whidbey author and teacher, writes that of all of Mergens gifts to others, the most important is her strong belief in other people’s potential.

“Frankly, I can think of no other greater offering that anyone can give,” she said. “Celeste is truly a gift to this community.”