Life as we know it. And what exactly is it that we know?

Consider your life-- the people you encounter, the things you do, the places you go... What do they mean and do they affect you in any way? More than that, does your life affect others? This is a question I often ask myself, as I'm sure many do too. And I assure you, as I assure myself daily, it does. Each person's life affects others. A better question to ask is "how does your life affect others?"

A dear friend of mine gave me a necklace to which she had the pair, and together they quoted the musical Wicked, saying "because I knew you I have been changed for good". It warmed my heart to know that I could affect someone's life in such a way that she would say that to me. I once told someone who was interviewing me for an assignment that my one goal in life was to impact at least one person. Of course, I implied for the better, but later, thinking about it, I realized that every action we take impacts others whether it be for better or for worse. So it should be our goal not simply to impact people-- what a low bar that would be-- but rather to impact people for the better.

Just today, I sat at a funeral for a dear friend of mine. She was 17 years old when she passed. But as I sat listening to the preacher, I began to think. I began to look around. I thought, "look at all these people! We've filled one of the biggest churches in this city to celebrate the 17 years God had given us with her! In just 17 years, this is the impact she'd had!" I began to think back to the times I'd spent with that dear friend and the changes she'd affected in my life and of all those around. It was incredible.

Thinking back upon my life thus far, I can see some of the impact I've had. Sadly, I remember more bad than good. Perhaps, that is why I try so hard to be a good influence now. But the past is in the past. One may only reflect upon it in the present and hope to avoid repeating it in the future. So the question remains-- "how does your life affect others?" What is "life as you know it"?