Unintentional Influence

I have written before about unintentional influence.  It is the impact our behavior has on others without even knowing it, especially children.  The below says it better than I ever could.  I have seen this before and you may have as well, but it is worth sharing and it is a great reminder...  

When You Thought I Wasn't Looking Written by a former child Author Unknown

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another one. When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind to animals. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make my favorite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life. When you thought I wasn't looking I heard you say a prayer, and I knew there is a God I could always talk to and I learned to trust in God. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I learned that we all have to help take care of each other. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of your time and money to help people who had nothing and I learned that those who have something should give to those who don't. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you take care of our house and everyone in it and I learned we have to take care of what we are given. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw how you handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't feel good and I learned that I would have to be responsible when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes and I learned that sometimes things hurt, but it's alright to cry. When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to be everything that I could be. When you thought I wasn't looking, I learned most of life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and productive person when I grow up. When you thought I wasn't looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, 'Thanks for all the things I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.' Each of us (parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, teacher or friend) influences the life of a child. How will you touch the life of someone today?

Grow Up!

People say that it is possible to actually grow up.  I am not sure I ever met anyone who has really done it.  What does it really mean to grow up anyway?  Does it mean to...

·         Stop acting like a kid?

·         Become responsible?

·         Stop having fun?  …or have a different kind of fun?

·         Take on Debt?  …or be out of debt?

·         Act mature? (What is mature?)

·         Get a real job?  (What is a real job?)

Growing up is subjective.  It means different things to different people.  I believe that growing up is the sequence of life's events that make us who we are.  The nature of those events may cause some feel to feel grown up and others not.  Those events may cause some people to never feel, or act, really grow up.  For that matter, maybe none of us ever actually grow up.  That may not be all bad.  Life is a journey and not a destination.  If we were to all be grown up what would we have to look forward to?

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

As this year draws to a close I hope that the MMM has played a small role in challenging you to be a better you over the last twelve months.  Enjoy your time with family and friends this week and prepare to hit the ground running for 2017 next week!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

What are you known for?

Certain cities are known for specific things, like food, culture, and architecture.  Celebrities and politicians are often famous for specific good deeds, or maybe more often, certain indiscretions.  Years in history are known for what happened during them.  What are you know for?

It is a question often discussed in real time about public figures, but for a lot of us it does not come up until someone leaves this earth.  We tend to discuss legacies only once someone passes away.  But we are known for who we are now, and what we do while we are alive!  Our regular daily behavior leads us to have a certain reputation.  Our legacy is being built daily as we speak and act.  It can be changed before we die!

How will you be remembered for “the dash” of your life?  What will you be known for during the years between your birth and death?  If you don’t like the answer, get to work on how to change it while you still can!