As I
alluded to in an earlier blog, this week I have been thinking about “The Person
Who Changed My Life” after watching this special report from CNN. After
watching the program and seeing how and who the anchors mentioned as the people
who changed their lives for the better, I have been thinking about how I would
answer that question. Initially I had two thoughts. One, I wonder who I would
identify. Second, I think the answer is me. Neither of those interviewed gave themselves
as answer.
I feel
like this is a kind of question where the answer should fly right out of your
mouth. I don’t know for sure but it seemed like the anchors I watched didn’t
have to think about this at all. I wish I could know what their process was
like. But in lieu of that information all I know is how I processed the
information.
For
instance there are many changes we experience, both bad and good, that turn us
into the people we were meant to be. I am assuming they mean this question to
be connected to the positive changes in our lives. Even so I don’t have just
one answer. I mean how could I? I don’t have one person who could have changed
all of the aspects of my life that led me to this particular moment.
Instead
I believe my journey since birth has been filled with teachers, mentors, even
inspirational strangers that have all done something to change who I was into
who I was becoming. I now believe I was right to include myself. After all I do
a lot of soul searching and work to get where I want to be and if I wasn’t open
enough for change no one around me would get through.
I feel
like I can attribute the most significant changes in my life to a series of
very specific times in my life. This is by no means an all-inclusive list. Nor
are these the only people who are important in my life. But this are the ones I
have for sure have led me to this place in my life and the ones that popped
right into my head.
First
of all there is my college professor, Dr. Sal. College was such a huge change
within its self that I could never probably account for how those four years
developed within my soul. It was one of the most imperative learning
experiences there could ever be. My education, friends, and self-awareness were
all simultaneously heightened there. It was also where I met Dr. Sal my own
personal “Morrie”. His encouragement never faltered. I took literally every one
of his classes always enthralled by his humor mixed into the lesson, the best
of which was that we shouldn’t look back only forward. I remain in touch with
him to this day.
Next up
there is Samantha Brown (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-those-who-also-worship-my-travel.html) host of the many popular shows
on the Travel Channel. She was the first person to show me what traveling
around the world could do for you. She opened the whole world up for me while
teaching me how to prepare, visit, and conquer it all. Without her guidance I
am not sure I would have ever be aware of how much passion I have for travel.
She made it all seem possible. It was my great privilege to have met her
several times.
Author
Elizabeth Gilbert (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2015/09/for-magical-meeting-with-my-mentor.html) has changed many lives through
her famous self-journey “Eat, Pray, Love”. While that story definitely
resonated with me it was her publication of “Big Magic” last year that provided
me with the validation of my life’s work. There will never be a way I can put
into words how important those lessons were for me. Ever since I finished the
book and went to hear her speak, I have never looked back only forwards to my
life as a writer.
Anderson
Cooper (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/09/for-anderson.html) is one of the hosts featured in
the CNN special. He is also someone I adore. I have read his memoir and watched
him provide me with the news of the day on a regular basis. He is a no nonsense
reporter always “keeping them honest”. He has past along one of the greatest
pieces of information his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt ever gave him: “Follow Your
Bliss”. I have kept that close to my vest ever since. That phrase is pretty
much all I ever need to remind me to keep going striving towards the life I
imagine.
One of
the most important lessons of my life came out of a terrifying time when my
loved ones were for fighting for their lives (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2011/06/for-gratefulness-and-giving-back.html). Thankfully they are now healthy
but that time will always remain imprinted on my heart. Of the many life
lessons bestowed by that tough time I vowed to never take anything or anyone
for granted. I know how blessed I am and my miracles will always know I
celebrate their lives for enriching mine and that their struggles were not in
vain.
Last
but certainly not least, there is my mother (http://thequeenoff-ckingeverything.blogspot.com/2012/05/for-my-mother.html).
Without her there is nothing. No me, no soul. She is the heartbeat of my family
and of many members of her expansive family. I may be overly tough on her
sometimes but that is because I always want her to be happy at her best. She is
the person who showed me how having compassion is a gift within itself. It is
not a lesson that can be taught. Giving of myself to those when they are down
is second nature to her, and I like to think now of me too.
Though
this list is short it is comprehensive. Looking it over I see each of these
influential stories within myself as well as in my day-to-day activities. I
also see how lucky I am to have more than one person who wanted to shape my
life. In order to become the Queen of F-cking Everything I need a steady flow
of people in and out of my life showing me the way. EVERYTHING spans the globe
so I need a lot of backup.
Perhaps
the anchors had more than one person in their lives as well but sharing of all
them would have led that program to drone on for days. The point of the show
served as an example of how the connections we make every day inspire people in
ways we are not aware of. They may not realize how special they are to us.
Letting them in on that secret is another one of life’s greatest gifts.
All of
these reasons mentioned above are the reasons why I have written blogs about
practically all of my “people” and will continue to do so on my journey. I am
now eager to see who I will add to this list in the future.
I would
also consider it an honor to one day to be featured as a person who changed
someone else’s life for the better.
So it
appears my initial instinct was right. I do have to count myself among the
people who have changed my life. I took the lessons I was showed and
incorporated them into who I want to be on any given day.
I had a
feeling I would be right, I usually am.
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