Just a Thought

I heard somewhere that during your lifetime you may effect as many as 800,000 people. That means that you, intentionally or unintentionally, impact the 800,000 people you come in contact with throughout your life. Those people will then go on and effect 800,000 people, and they will effect 800,000 people, and so on, and so on. Kind of scary thinking, huh?

So that got me thinking...

"How have I been making my impact?"  and more importantly "How would  I like to effect those 800,000 people?'

I have no idea how many people I have already touched, for better or for worse. I have images of childhood friendships, family, business relationships, students, and I'm sure there are quite of few that I didn't even know, or that I was effecting them at all.  Perhaps simply a spectator at a horse show that was touched by something I did or didn't do. 

I think back to my earlier post regarding Dara Torres. I have never met her. I never even knew she existed before the Olympics...but she made a huge impact on me. Her actions at that Olympic Games made me proud to be a human being and strive to have that perspective of my fellow competitors in my own life.

I already know, as I'm sure we all do, that I want to leave the world a better place. I want people to to have a positive effect from my presence in this life. The challenge comes in actually living that in real life. It is inevitable that we will disappoint or hurt people in some way. We are human and we have emotions, so it will happen. The extent of how much hurt, and how much damage is done, however, can be reduced by being more aware of that general desire to have a positive influence in life.

So, okay, I need to remember when those times come, as they do for all of us at some time, when I loose my temper, get frustrated and act poorly, that I must try and reduce the negative impact someone may get from that moment. In being aware, I can hopefully reduce the level of negativity.

However, the bigger question I have for myself and for others is... "What about when you are unaware of that you are impacting someone?"

What image are people left with of who I am and how I am living my life? It's not that I am worried about what people think for my my own vanity or self gratification, but more that I wish to have a positive effect on them. If I live as a genuinely kind, and giving person, with the idea that I want to my actions to bring happiness, caring, peace, inspiration, love, joy, empowerment, etc. to others, then I should be transparent in my life. It should radiate from me in what I say and do. 

Pretty profound thinking...huh?

So I am writing this post as a commitment to you, my fellow man (woman), that I will aspire to be a positive influence on you and by writing this down, and making it public, I am making myself accountable to you. 

I now challenge you to do the same. "What impact do you want to make on your 800,000 people?"