Think About It

Today is my dad’s birthday. As I thought about this day, several things came to mind, but one of the most obvious is the influence he has had on me. Some people say that we physically resemble each other and if you listen real carefully, you will probably hear his words come out of my mouth. I was named after him (and my grandfather). Yet, the most notable influence may be in our careers. I have been a minister, police officer and am very invested in trauma and crisis management. Interestingly, his careers parallel mine (or more accurately, mine parallel his). I don’t think that I consciously set out to follow his lead, but after six decades the similarities are eerie. Have you thought about those who have influenced you? More importantly, have you stopped to thank those who influenced you? Eventually, we all have to make decisions based on our own rationale, but it would be the epitome of arrogance to say that we are self-made people. Do you need to thank someone for where yo