My late wife, Vickie Keener, would have been 60 years old today. She’s been gone almost 7 years, having died about a month after turning 53.
Of course you’ve already seen plenty of evidence that life is short. So, you don’t need me to remind you of that.
Rather, just as I did with my post of one year ago, what I want to accomplish with this post is to get you to think about the impact you have on other people.
Obviously, Vickie had a major impact on me. Before meeting her, I was totally self-centered. And it wasn’t like I was just a kid who finally grew up: we were 35 when we married. I was selfish because it was my nature, not because I was a youngster. And, as I age, and now that she has been gone so long, I can feel myself slipping back into being self-centered. But, while she and I were together, I was a much better person.
Of course we all know that spouses have tremendous impact on each other. You don’t need to be reminded that you are a powerful influence on your spouse, or your children, or others in your immediate family.
It’s all the other people that Vickie impacted that serves as something for you to think about. Obviously she impacted everyone in our family, but beyond that she impacted everyone she met.
I recall talking with her lead doctor, about 3 months after she had passed, as I met with him to discuss her medical records. He was greatly moved by her passing, too, and mentioned that his entire staff still missed her because she always warmed up the room whenever she visited.
Yes, she was special, and she had a real impact on people. But, my belief is that we all have an impact on everyone we meet. Sure, sometimes the impact is small, but it can also be much more of an impact than we realize.
I try to keep that in mind as I write entries in this blog. I often tell myself “Be careful with the advice you give: someone will follow it.”
Anyway, I don’t want to dilute the message by filling it with my own personal examples. Instead, I will leave you with the following questions to ponder:
- Have you taken time to think about the impact you are having on others, and whether it is the impact you want to have?
- For those special people who have a great impact on your life, are you showing your gratitude as you should?
Take care.