Challenge Accepted
On average we cross paths with about 27,000 people each year. What I find most interesting about that stat is that you can live in the same community with thousands of people, yet only know a small portion. All it takes is one day for someone to walk in your life and change it.
It was a mild August night. My friend asked me to hit the town with a group of her friends before I headed back to Minneapolis in the morning. Hesitating to go, I wasn’t sure when I would see her next so I went.
I walked in and noticed him right away. His piercing blue eyes would stop you in your tracks across any room. When he approached, I sensed he was nervous. The type of nervous when there’s 10 seconds left on the clock, you’re down by 2, and need to hit a 3 to win.
Once we got to talking, I concluded we were quite opposite — taste in beer, genre of music, sports, you name it. I’ve never disagreed more with someone, yet was so drawn in to learning a new perspective. But by the end of the night, he asked + received my number.
He was sedulous. He texted me for months before I really gave him the time of day — yes, looking back I am terrible! But in my defense, we lived in two different states, didn’t have a lot in common, and I just started my first full-time job upon graduating college.
Fast forward to a chilly Thanksgiving weekend, something just clicked for me. Like when you’ve done a math problem incorrect three times to then understand where you messed up and finally solve it on the fourth try. That “Ohhh” moment. From then on, we’ve tackled anything from long-distance and obstacles to being quarantined together.
Our story isn’t perfect, but he is for me. He’s taught me to embrace differences within others. That it’s an opportunity to learn new activities, hobbies, interests, etc. that might not be apart of your own life, but can make someone special.
Whether that one person who walked in your life and changed it was a friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, classmate, etc., reflect on why they’re important. What did they teach you? What qualities do you admire? Where in your life are you that person who changed someone else? Most importantly, recognize them. Everyone needs to hear some positivity — you don’t know what they’re battling.