The People We Meet

I believe that everyone we meet comes into our life for a reason. And I often like to look at the people I have met and see just how my life is different for knowing them. I have been blessed with some amazing people in my life. Whether it be blessed to have them as my family, friends, students, teammates, players, roommates, neighbors, boyfriends, co-workers, bishops, bosses, or just passengers on my plane. And we can consciously make a choice on how much we let them influence our lives. I love meeting new people and creating new relationships with them. I am awed at how many amazing people there are in this world. I have met people with similar lives as me, and people that are completely different. I adore them for what and who they are.

I value my relationships with my family and friends and all the different people I meet. I could go through and examine everyone and list what I have learned from them, but that would take forever. But this post is actually entirely dedicated to the woman I met on the plane the other day while I was working. She was the last one on the plane, seated in the last row, she walked with a walker and a severe limp. Everyone was a bit irritated as they were in a hurry for the flight to leave. This lady was not filtered, said what she wanted (nothing rude or crude, just frank and funny), she spoke very slowly and slurred her words. She walked with her husband and son to the back of the plane and sat right next to me, and the lavatory, which she laughed about. Saying "it's a good thing they put the cripple all the way in the back, by the toilet, just in case." I looked at her and saw that she clearly had reconstructive surgery done. When we were in the air, she told me her story. She showed me her pictures. She was in a motorcycle accident, got hit by another car. She was in a coma for 7 months, doctors didn't think she would make it. But she did. They said she wouldn't be able to walk again. But she did. She had to learn everything again, how to feed herself, write, do her hair, dress herself, speak. And she did. While in the coma, her then husband cheated on her and brought the other woman into the home. Her current husband married her after the accident, he saw her for the true beautiful person she is. And she is beautiful. Beautiful to the core. Her son is adopted. He was her foster child, one of many she chose to give a home to, and she adopted him at the age of 13 so he would have a family and a better life. Her amazing attitude, outlook on life, and her charisma was enchanting. She feels so blessed for her health and her life. The strongest serving of humble pie I have received in awhile. How grateful I am for the lesson I learned from her. Be thankful. Everyday. For life. For health. For God. Made me feel real dumb for ever complaining about petty things. Made me want to take advantage of my healthy body, and run, and dance, play, sing, laugh, love. Yes, to the beautiful woman I met on the plane, thank you. Thank you for being you. Thank you for your smiling face, even though it may be hard to do so. Thank you for thinking of others, for recognizing the good in your life, for acknowledging God's hand in your life. He has not left you, He has blessed you and loves you as you bless and love others.

You never know who you are influencing. If you are reading this post, there is a strong chance I have learned something from you and I thank you for that.