“Reflection”

How often do you stop and ponder life’s really big questions?

“Why am I here?”

“What’s the meaning of life?”

“Why is the sky blue and the grass green?”

Time spent pondering the imponderables is often viewed as time that could have been spent on more worthwhile endeavors such as reading a classic novel or listening to classical music or having cookies and milk.

Why is it we look down upon simply taking time to “think about things”?

i’m not going to go down that rabbit hole.

Instead, I want you to take a few moments to consider the moments or events that had the greatest impact on your life as well as the people associated with those events. I’ve discovered the two go hand-in-hand; that is, you can’t have one without the other.

Who have been the biggest influences is your life? Outside of family, mine have mostly been teachers. It started with my kindergarten teacher Miss Jarret, 1st grade was Miss Scmidt – I told her if she waited for me I would marry her when I grew up. 3rd grade was Mrs Brainard. 4th was Mrs Voigt. 8th was Mr Tuska. Senior year of high school it was my English teacher, Mr McNamee. But the one teacher who was there from 2nd grade through high school was Mrs Bickford, my violin teacher.

Oh, how I hated her. Oh, how I loved her. I’m pretty sure her thoughts about me were the same!

I will never forget the day she called me a “gentleman” in front  of the entire orchestra.  I felt proud. I felt important. I felt like I had class. Best part, I was the only male violinist in a sea of females!

I will never forget the day she wanted to throw me out of the orchestra. Thanks mom, for going to bat for me.

I’m not sure how she did it, but Mrs Bickford always knew how to get the best out of me. Even when I didn’t believe I could; she believed in me – without fail. She knew when to push and shove. She knew when to ease up.

I hope everyone reading this has/had a person like Mrs Bickford in their life at some point. I’d be telling a lie if I said I didn’t think about Mrs Bickford’s influence on my life daily. It’s funny what triggers those thoughts. Sometimes it’s the Muzak playing in the store. Sometimes it’s seeing a little old grey haired lady that reminds me of her.  Sometimes it’s a stupid joke.

Do me a favor – if that person or persons is/are still alive and you have contact with them…

Thank them!

Why?

Because swithout their influence you wouldn’t be the person you are today. One person can make a difference. YOU can make a difference in someone’s life.

Just like Mrs. Magdaleine Bickford made a difference in mine.