The Beginning
It is said that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. This is the first step. This is the journey that begins a new endeavor.
We are influenced in so many ways. I can remember being influenced by a teacher. Imagine that a teacher influencing a student. We were on a field trip going to a drama event. I was involved in drama in high school quite extensively I would say.
Oh and let me say that I might skip around on my thoughts a bit. Try to keep up. You see I am afflicted in many ways. One of these ways is that my brain is a bit faster than my fingers or my mouth.
Back to the drama field trip. We were traveling in a school van, I believe. I can remember seeing a bunch of planes along side the road flying. I know now that they were ultralights, not really planes, but I didn't know the difference. In any case, I said out loud that one day I would like to fly an airplane. I thought I was using my inner voice at that time. I wasn't. In any case my teacher, she knows who she is, said in a "matter of fact" voice and attitude "Mike, I expect that one day you will". Those words weren't quite exactly what she said as it has been a few years since high school. The meaning however and the delivery of those words were such that "Mike, you are going to do whatever it is that you say you are going to do".
Needless to say, that small town boy from Nebraska went on to become a pilot.
Back to the power of influence. I don't know your profession. I don't know your position on politics. I don't know your gender. I don't know where you live. It doesn't matter. What matters, you see, is how you influence.
Two points to make here. The first of which is how we influence ourselves. What in the world are you talking about influencing ourselves? It has to start with ourselves before we can take it outside of ourselves. There is a saying that says something like "The master teaches that which he needs to be taught".
By the way, I have cliche's for everything. Just so you know.
We influence ourselves by what we think and how we act, or by the choices we make. Somewhere along the lines of that which we think is what we become. If we worry, sulk, dwell on the negative and in general think about bad stuff then bad is what happens.
I know, sometimes life hands us a handful of crap. It doesn't mean that we have to like it or even put up with it. You cannot fight darkness with more darkness. The only way to fight darkness is with light. Be the light. Be the bright, shining light. You know that one thing at the end of the tunnel. When you can get handed a pile of crap use it as fertilizer. Use it for good. Turn it into a learning experience. A mistake (pile of crap) is only a mistake (pile of crap) if you don't learn from it. If you learn from this experience, it now becomes a lesson. Pretty cool huh?
Now we move on to influence on others. Let me just say this, you don't have to be anything other than who you are to influence someone or something else. The influence you have on others can be profound. It can be life changing. It can be good. It can be bad. There are choices and consequences.
I have told my kids that a good person will do good, even when nobody is looking. I believe this can be said of influence also. Be the good influence, you never know what actions you are taking that will be the influence on someone or something. Be the good influence that you would want someone to have on you or your family and friends.
Okay, enough of standing up on this darn soap box. My intent here is to.........
My intent is to share. I think that life is short. Life is an unknown. You don't know when your time is up. I want to share some stories. Some are good, some are not so good. I want to share some happiness. I want to share some memories before they are not memories anymore and they are just gone.
There will be more to follow, this is just the beginning. You know, that first step. To those of you who have read to the end of my meandering style of writing I say............
Welcome aboard.