Each of us is unique to the world. No one has ever existed that is identical to what we are.
Someone might look just like you and maybe even have similar genetic makeup. The rest of you, however, is yours alone — a blend highly-flavored by external impressions.
Among the most important of those are the people you meet, especially those who impress you with what they know or do. Just as many brush strokes become a painting, so do all of what they contribute become a part of you, their manner influencing your behavior ever so slightly, but strong enough to affect your future.
All of this lends much truth to the old saying: Be careful of the company you keep.
I deeply appreciate what I have gained from others who have shared with me the excitement that arises from living, experiencing, and simply being alive. Without that priceless gift, my life would be far less fulfilling. Here are two examples:
Rudy wasn’t just one of the many college professors I had over those four years, he was the best. He was never condescending nor did he cause us students to feel he knew everything while we knew little to nothing. He made it clear that he wasn’t teaching, but instead was sharing with us what he knew within the confines of the subject matter. The tests he gave us were specifically designed to make sure we not only had listened but had also learned. That was important, but the indelible mark he left on me and I’m sure all the others was the exceptionally high regard and respect he had for his students.
Steve was truly a man of the Great West who was emotionally moved by its history and the mood of its mountains. He constantly roamed that part of the country in an old Ford van, dedicating his life to becoming an exceptional photographer. Although he eagerly shared his knowledge by teaching his craft, he was more excited about what he learned from those attending his workshops. He and I became such close friends that we both felt free to query each other as to the chemistry that unexpectedly urged us to photograph certain scenes. By sharpening my senses and urging me forward, he compelled me to see beyond the obvious.
Many others have influenced what I have been able to accomplish, either by opening doors for me or giving me the courage and confidence to open my own. Sometimes, however, it happened so quickly there was no time to prepare. One of those occurred when I was managing the media center at the Indiana State Fair.
Outside the closed door were at least a hundred screaming teenagers wanting an autograph of legendary singer and entertainer Nat King Cole. He had just taken his final bow when I was startled to suddenly be asked to usher him into a room away from the crowd so he could write autographs for them.
So, there we were, just the two of us, him repeatably filling a page with signatures and me cutting them apart and handing them to the kids outside the door. We both took full advantage of what was a good opportunity to visit, but I could tell he especially seemed to welcome the chance to relax for a short while.
At the time, his popularity was on a steep rise, but so was the stress — a common condition among entertainers. Yet, he told me that he never grew tired or impatient of the screaming kids because if it weren’t for them, he wouldn’t be selling millions of records. Neither would people know his voice that he firmly believed was a gift from God.
Although many years have passed since then, I still bear the imprint of what he shared with me during those few minutes, a rare glimpse of deeply felt humility from an extremely talented person. Nat King Cole went on from there to leave behind a rich musical legacy that will continue to be enjoyed by millions of people throughout the world.
It has never been a matter of waiting for something to happen, but rather of taking advantage of every chance to logically engage with those who are clearly accomplished. If you have yet to add that to your mindset, give that advantage to yourself now.
Some people we meet have scaled the heights of success while others have mastered the way to live a satisfying life.
But no matter who is involved or how brief the encounter, you are likely to come away wanting to learn new ways of improvising and surviving unexpected and demanding situations, insisting on delivering nothing but the best of what you are and can do, and gaining encouragement to add to that of which you were born.
Each stroke of that brush gradually blends with all the others to make each of us a unique work of art.
