It takes a village

“It takes a village” has always been a saying that I found to be very true. I know that I would not be who I am without many of the people in my life.  From family, to friends, to teachers and mentors; all of these people have had an impact in my life and have made me who I am today.  It is times like today when I receive wonderful news about people in my village that I become aware at how true this saying really is.

I received very wonderful news from my sister today – she revived a very big honor and award on her college campus that is usually reserved for seniors; she is a junior.  I enjoyed getting these phone calls when I can hear the smile in her voice about how the process to receiving this award was going. It was a nomination, an application, an interview, and then a final decision committee meeting; after all this she was one of just a few students to receive this award. This is a big deal.

I was talking to her on my way last night, when she was finally able to tell me that she had received the award. I am pretty sure I screamed in my car.  As we were talking I was sad to tell her that I wasn’t going to be able to make it to the award ceremony, and she stated that I would be there in spirit.  I then said “what are you talking about, I am there – you wouldn’t be who you are without me!”, and her reply was so sweet. She said “I figured that our years ago.”

Hearing that you have made a difference is amazing; it brought a smile to my heart.  My little sister is an amazing woman and I am so lucky to have her in my life; but what I find more amazing is that she considers herself lucky to have me in her life.  I know that my sister did all the work to receive this honor, but I can’t help but feel that this was a family effort – it took a village to make her the woman she is today.

Look at the people you have in your life, and who you are able to influence every day.  You can either choose to have a positive influence on those around you or a negative one.  I try to have a positive influence on all those who are around me, and I have found that it make those around me more positive, which in turn means that I am surround by positive people. It is a happy never ending cycle.

The moral of the story is to make sure that the village that you surround yourself with is doing their job and making you into the person you want to be.  Sometime you luck out and happen to come from a family of awesome people who help you become an pretty cool person… but when you are on your own, starting a new village (what I am doing right now) I am looking for people who are going to make me happy, make me smile and laugh, and make me a better person.  I hope that you are working to make your village grow, and that you are member of many villages as well.

Tell the people in your village when you are proud of them, not only will it make them feel better but it will make you feel better as well – so to Miss Camryn Nelson, I am so proud of you and your more recent accomplishment. I love you and I can’t wait for your adventure to continue.

You have it all & Confidence,

Lyndsay