The gravity of changing another person's life.

bobcat

bobcat

Well-known Member
Location
Northern Calif
So often we say and do things that have the potential of changing another person's life forever, even on this forum.
Many times we don't really think of the tremendous impact and responsibility of that.
Changing another person's life permanently is a big deal. Do you think about it much?
 

bobcat said:
So often we say and do things that have the potential of changing another person's life forever, even on this forum.
Many times we don't really think of the tremendous impact and responsibility of that.
Changing another person's life permanently is a big deal. Do you think about it much?
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In a word , No..!...aside from my own family, I don't think I'm capable of changing another person's life..
 
I have contributed as a volunteer on a mental health site .... i have received many sincere thank yous and i may have helped someone see something in a different way .... i am always happy if even a suggestion helps ....
i have not put much thought in the other way if i did NOT help as many times it may.......... not be What was said but How a person took it.
 
StarSong said:
Hmmm... this is one to ponder, @bobcat. Most who've changed my life never realized the enduring effect their words, advice or example had on me.
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I think that happens often in life where the advice of others, or seeing how they handle situations, or live their life, can influence and change ours. Maybe they never even know that it has happened, but I can't help but think the things you have talked about with others and perhaps advice you given along the way has had an effect on them. That's a pretty big responsibility to know you have altered someone's life IMO.
 
I coached at a Boys Club in Colorado for a couple of years. I know many of the kids, who are now grown up, remember me. I know that as I remember every coach I had growing up.

If you want to leave a mark in this world, help some kids learn to do something you love to do....
 
Jeni said:
I have contributed as a volunteer on a mental health site .... i have received many sincere thank yous and i may have helped someone see something in a different way .... i am always happy if even a suggestion helps ....
i have not put much thought in the other way if i did NOT help as many times it may.......... not be What was said but How a person took it.
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What a great reward to have gotten that feedback and to know you helped someone navigate though waters that could have resulted in shipwreck. You never know sometimes what another is going through, and what a difference even a little kindness and caring can do.
 
DH & I own a small business. Before we semi-retired and eliminated the retail component (strictly B to B now), we employed HS & college students for part time and summer work. It was a first job for nearly all of them and most stayed several years until they moved forward to adult jobs and careers. We paid well and increased their responsibility over time.

We're still in touch with many, all of whom tell us it was the best, happiest, most fun job they ever had.

My first job taught me about teamwork outside of sports, and to be a reliable, honest, hard-working employee. It always heartens me to know we so positively affected the 25 or so kids who worked for us over the years.

People always remember their first jobs.
 
bobcat said:
Changing another person's life permanently is a big deal. Do you think about it much?
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No! I try very hard not to change someone else , as that might include pushing some of my expectations onto them about what they should do and who they should be?

For the person I live with, who has the most impact on my life, I try my best to coexist with him in peace without judgment
 
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In a little different aspect of the question asked .... it brings to mind a TV program I watched last night on 20/20, about Finding Baby Holly.
Her parents were murdered, leaving a religious cult, and their bodies dumped in a large forest area north of Houston. This was over 40 years ago.

She was their baby that just disappeared at that time too, and family in Florida was at a total loss to get any answers about anything that happened to any of them.
40 years later, with technology that didn't exist before, they were able to find her, and put together the 'story' of her life and that of her young parents that were found murdered.


At age 42, married w/five children of her own, she must feel like a new person with all the discoveries that came to be ....

Baby Holly's Untold Story
 
I used to work in a psychiatric hospital. One of the things we used was that each patient had one person, whom the pt. totally liked and trusted. It could be anybody- a doctor, nurse, aide, janitor,, clerk, etc. I have no idea why or how they choose the other person. That lone person could calm the pt. down, when nobody else could. That person could get the pt. to take his meds, etc., etc. I think somewhere, somebody is going to clamp onto somebody else, whom they totally trust and like. And that somebody else will have an impact on their life.
 
I think this principle is why "It's a Wonderful Life" is one of my favorite movies. And in fact, there have been people throughout history that had gigantic impacts on many others, good or bad. But us ordinary folks still have an impact, and I think it is much bigger than we realize.
 
Actually yes because I have personal experience with someone's words and or actions changing my life forever. I don't think people care sometimes whether they hurt someone or not. I don't think people pay much mind to the fact that sometimes the smallest thing can make a person's day.
 
I change my mind, does that count as a change of life?
 

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