For good

I was listening to a beautiful song from the amazing Broadway musical Wicked.  I was overwhelmed with emotion and flooded with images of people who have changed my life - have changed me - for good.  I drove down the freeway - music blaring, tears streaming - singing at the top of my lungs and feeling more gratitude than I knew what to do with.  (Quite a sight, a 48 year-old woman cruising down the freeway singing and bawling in a Ford Explorer with the plates HPYSNPY.)

I got home and began writing thank you notes to people who have had an impact on my life.  I quickly realized I could quite possibly be writing thank you notes for a very long time.  I believe that everyone we meet has the potential to influence our lives, and so many amazing people have had a transformative effect on mine.  As I stated before, the gratitude for these people and their profound influence was overwhelming.  How can I possibly express this gratitude to each person?

This question hung ominously over my heart as I felt, for a moment, that I might be unable to convey the love, compassion, and appreciation I have for so many incredible souls.  Then I came back to the lyrics.  "Because I knew you, I have been changed for good."  My living and moving forward in life as the person I am - knowing that much of it is what I have learned from you - is the best way for me to express my love and gratitude.  To be and live as the best version of myself, and to remember that - like a stream that meets a boulder - my actions, words, caring, etc., have an impact as well.

To those of you who have changed me "for good," thank you.  I do believe I have been changed for the better . . .