Influence

Was doing some reading today - John Izzo's book "Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die". This caught my attention ...

"I have realized that the way I have been with my family and with others for most of my life has been destructive. They needed my love, and they received judgment; they needed my appreciation and got my criticisms; and they needed me to be a positive person, and I have drowned them in negativity."

Sure. I'd give anything to hear those words from a couple of people in my life. Who wouldn't? But that's not the point. I got to thinking, wondering if I ever did hear these words - how would I respond?

I thought long and hard about it; here it is...

"Can you ever forgive me? For failing you? For not being a strong enough influence of positive and light and love in your life? After all, if I had been, wouldn't things have worked out so much more differently between us?"

Don't get me wrong. I know I've tried. I've tried damn hard. And indeed I truly have been a strong enough influence for many lives that have entered and blessed my life.

Just not all of them. And just not some really important ones.