What if every person in your life is here to teach you something?
Every single person you encounter…
From business colleagues to the teller at the bank, your mother-in-law, your first boss, and even that mean girl in high school.
Guess what? I believe they ARE here to teach us.
Over the years I’ve come to realize I was shaped, in part, by those around me. These individuals, through the lessons they carried, have helped me write the story of my life.
Some taught me how to become more open and loving. Others showed me my own shadow. A few made me realize my true priorities.
I can’t even imagine the person I’d be without all of these wonderful people.
Some of my Greatest Teachers ::
- My best friend in middle school taught me how NOT to take life so seriously. She laughed at herself. She laughed at me. Soon I learned to laugh at me too.
- The manager at a store where I worked during college provided me with lots of lessons. With her often explosive temper, she taught me that other people’s moods have very little to do with me.
- Years ago, a colleague taught me to soften my view of the world. To her, there were no strangers, just friends she hadn’t met. Her heart was as big as her hugs. From her I learned that when you come from a place of love, things often turn out better and almost always feel better.
- Another colleague taught me to regularly express my good feelings for those around me, without holding back – as we never know what may happen. His wife, a teacher, died in a school shooting while we were working together. In the days that followed, he talked about the last time he saw her… That was a big lesson.
- There was the manager who asked me to conduct business in a way that did not match my values. From him I learned my values were far more important to me than money and that I’d rather walk away than compromise my principles.
- A friend who seemed to enjoy verbalizing her judgments taught me compassion and acceptance. In her, I sometimes saw myself. I realized the things I didn’t like in her, were reflections of traits I didn’t like in myself at the time. It was just the motivation I needed to make changes.
- One of my life coaches brought up so much. I’d have to write a book to explain it all. At its core was the fact that she helped me dig through a lot of the stories I’d carried with me for years. During our work together, when I saw or felt things I didn’t want to deal with – I distracted myself by becoming frustrated with her. Once I worked through this, I was able to heal some of my oldest emotional wounds…all because she pushed the right buttons.
- Then there was my teacher in coach training. She was a triple threat :: a strong woman, with firm boundaries, who owned her power. In other words, she was unlike anyone I’d ever known. She didn’t just push my buttons. She kind of jumped on them. She brought up all my “stuff” but then gave me the tools to work through it. My life has never been the same.
To all of these people and the many others, I say “thank you” for your lessons. My life is richer for having known you.
Your Turn ::
What if you looked at the cast of characters in your life as teachers?
Would it change your view those around you?
What lessons do you think they are here to teach?
If you enjoyed this post, please share with your friends.
XO
Piper
{Photo courtesy of Bunches and Bits {Karina}. Click for details.}
