Make a difference

[Riverwind (imported)]

Name three people that made a life changing difference in your life, it could be a parent a friend or someone else.

I start this thread partly because of my friend A-1 who brought up James Michener, it reminded me of a guy I was in the service with.

A guy by the name of Joe Harbin, he was a speed reader and came into work one Monday saying he had read the best book, "Hawaii" by Michener, took him 10 hours.

I hated to read and today I have a better understanding why, I am dyslexic, but Joe kept bugging me to read Hawaii said I would enjoy it and if I would read it he then knew I could read anything. I told him it was to long to hard etc. he would not let up on me and finally I bought my copy and started reading, after about 20 pages I stopped and told Joe I did not know half the words that were in that book, it was to hard and Joe's response was "have you ever herd of a dictionary"? Now I was really pissed, so I got the dictionary and the dictionary, Hawaii and me spent the next several weeks together until I noticed something very strange, Michener stopped using all those big words, I wondered why he only used them in the beginning of the book but continued, it took me 8 months to finish Michener's Hawaii. I went back and started it over and found that the second time through I did not need a dictionary.

Joe was so right, I have read several more Michener books, and thousands more, I read something every day. Over the years my speed of reading has greatly improved I will never be a speed reader and I still read every word but I have not needed to use a dictionary in years.

Little did Joe know he made a life change for me when he pestered me into reading that first Michener book.

Thanks Joe where ever you are.

I will need to think about the next two for my list.

River

[DeaconBlues (imported)]

I would love to answer this question, but there is NO way I would ever name these people publicly or identify them too well because... IF one or more of them should ever be found floating in the river, I don't want to be considered a suspect. Before meeting them, I was truly a philanthropist, someone who wanted so much to learn all that I could, and do as much good as possible for all people. Then I "GREW UP." Now, I am a self admitted misanthrope, ever since I met the three most evil things ever to have human form, may they burn in hell for eternity.

[A-1 (imported)]

Deacon,

Evil is what you make of it and it can only "ruin" you if you let it.

I tell everyone I am happy and I act it. (most of the time, no kidding!)

Sometimes, I do it just to be contrary. So occasionally, people DO ask me, why are you so happy?

And so, I tell them.

I tell them that being happy is a decision I make when I get up in the morning.

The trick is, you have to learn to be so STRONG, that no (son-of-a-Bitch) (or no one, according to who asks ) can change you mind.

It makes people think. If somebody is going to be unhappy, it has to be their problem and NOT yours...

Have a GREAT day, my friend!

If you want to be free, forgive yourself for associating with them in the first place and then forgive them for wronging you. You don't have to forget, (protect yourself) ...just forgive...

P.S. River, that was a GREAT story. Keep telling it...

[transward (imported)]

Deacon,

Evil is what you make of it and it can only "ruin" you if you let it.

I tell everyone I am happy and I act it. (most of the time, no kidding!)

Sometimes, I do it just to be contrary. So occasionally, people DO ask me, why are you so happy?

And so, I tell them.

I tell them that being happy is a decision I make when I get up in the morning.

The trick is, you have to learn to be so STRONG, that no (son-of-a-Bitch) (or no one, according to who asks ) can change you mind.

It makes people think. If somebody is going to be unhappy, it has to be their problem and NOT yours...

Have a GREAT day, my friend!

If you want to be free, forgive yourself for associating with them in the first place and then forgive them for wronging you. You don't have to forget, (protect yourself) ...just forgive...

P.S. River, that was a GREAT story. Keep telling it...

Abraham Lincoln

Most people are about as happy as they decide to be

Great minds think alike.

Transward

[raymar2020 (imported)]

This is a very nice thread.

I'll add my own to the list.

1. My father. He was a very bright and intelligent man, who instilled in me a work ethic that is sadly lacking in our world these days. He taught me the skills that made it possible for me to be successful in life, both my vocation, and the ability to deal with all the different types of people that one meets in life. He also had his own issues including a bout with alcoholism, that he overcame , on his own, and that showed me how to be strong in the face of adversity.

2. My great Aunt Dorothy. She, as a childless divorced woman kind of "adopted" me , and thru her my eyes were opened to many facets of life that were out of reach of my parents modest means. She was well off, and became my "Auntie Mame", whisking me off to places that my parents only wished they could take us. I was in the audience at the Opening of the Kennedy Center, and attended many a Washington "Party" and so was introduced to how government in America really works. She honed my appreciation for antiques, and art, and helped me to refine my tastes and led me to my college career in Interior Design. While many times my Mother was frustrated by her "antics" where I was concerned, she knew that Dorothy was giving me things that she could not.

3. My dear friend Richard. Common interest brought me together with a man who was 23 years older than I. We became quite close, and his presense in my life made it so much easier to come out as a gay man. We became roommates , and for all the years of our friendship he was the person that I KNEW I could always count on , no matter where I was or what I needed.

Age and bad habits on his part took a toll on his health , and I even moved back to my Hometown to be near to him. I like to feel that the time we shared in the twilight of his life was improved by our closeness. He was surrogate father, friend , and comrade , and not a day goes by that I don't miss him.

My Mother I must add, was for many years my best friend. We had one of those bonds that goes deeper than just parent/child. She was always supportive of my endeavors , even if she didn't approve. Sadly, as she aged, and infirmity came to her, she slowly stopped being that person. I miss her since her passing, but even more I mourn for the person who had faded away from me long before her death.

There are many others who have certainly molded and shaped the person that I am today, and I mean not to slight any of them by omitting them from this list, but these three, and my Mother surely had the most profound effect on who I am today.......

Raymar

[butterflyjack (imported)]

And, I would add, Raymar....what these people gave you has surely produced a fine person....

My grandfather, fraternal, loved me more than himself... My dad, though, like some others here, was crippled by alcoholism, managed to give me an appreciation of free thinking, a marvelous gift...

My a.a. sponsor, Pat H., an unselfish nature loving man...

Thanks for the topic dragonfly