How many people do you think you encounter on a daily basis? Another question: how many lives do you think you touch in a day? Now, do you think the second must follow the first? Or can you have an impact on someone else without directly encountering/conversing with them?
I ask this, as I have been remembering individuals from my past: friends and relationships that I have let fall to the wayside of life. And yet, simply remembering them or hearing news about them impacts me in different ways, based on our history together. Most positive, some negative.
It is interesting though, to think that I (or you) could have such an impact – small as it may be – on the lives of others that we have once known, simply by being ourselves. Granted, I don’t have a large pool of examples to pull from here, but several college friends have brought up old memories, recalling something that I said as being positive or moving, just telling me how much they appreciated it. They recall that as their own memory, something they uniquely treasure, and I got to play a part in that. I find moments like this to be very special. Perhaps it can just be chalked up to my massive ego; a tribute to me and all my wonderful advice-giving… But I rarely dwell on these things in my day-to-day, so here’s hoping I can remain behind that line of prideful self-edification.
I would argue though that it is healthy to allow yourself to feel joy when others recall these moments for you. It’s like they are paying you a compliment, but it’s more personal than that. When others around you appreciate you, I would encourage you to soak that up and be grateful for their honesty. Taking compliments is sometimes awkward of even difficult to do, I get it. It is still important to hear it spoken out loud. Who’s to say you won’t grow and come to recall that very conversation as a positive memory of your own? Why rob your future self of those warm fuzzies?
Although similar words can be said for those times when others offer their criticism for past somethings you may have done… that isn’t the topic of this essay. I just want to comment on the posture of our hearts when others offer us those accolades. It reminds us that we can still have an affect on the lives of those we may have only met once, twice, or just for a season.
And if you’ve made it to the end of this commentary, I’d encourage you to reach out to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Recall a positive memory that you both shared together and extract an exemplary attribute they displayed. Then simply, remind them of just that. I’m being vague with my language here on purpose; I don’t want to pigeonhole anyone into only thinking about their partner’s sick basketball skills, or their friend’s emotional fortitude after losing a loved one. Feel free to pick anything, as long as it is genuine and heartfelt.
P.S. – Autumn is the second greatest seasons of all time (superseded only by Spring, because of the rain). And I am so happy it is here.
P.P.S. – I really really really want to start planning a trip. Some sort of traveling is in my future, I just need to pin down the dates…
UWC 