I really, truly do not believe in coincidences, and I’d like to believe that everything happens for a reason – and for the most part, I do – but what I know for sure is that we don’t meet anyone by acciHdent. We are meant to cross paths with exactly everyone we do – no ifs, ands or buts. Every person that I have met – that I have truly gotten to know beyond the small talk - has contributed to who I am in this very moment in some way, shape or form.
Reflecting on all of the people I’ve gotten to know the past year, and throughout my entire life, I can pick out something very specific each person has taught me, whether they know it or not. Some of these things are simple and seemingly small, like how to be a good roommate - I’ve learned A LOT about that this past year – or how to plunge a toilet (which is something I am admittedly a newbie to. I know…) Other things are more significant, like how to love someone else – or yourself, for that matter. There will be people who inspire you to be a better person, and sometimes there will be people who show you exactly how not to be. There are individuals who will make such a small impact on your life you don’t even realize it, and then there are people who will shake. your. shit. up. They may radically change the way you see yourself, or they may shift how you go about things. They could alter the future you’ve always envisioned for yourself, or they could transform the way you fit into this world. Or, they could do all of the aforementioned. A quote by one of my favorite writers, R.M. Drake, perfectly sums it up:
“You are going to come across people in your life who will inspire you, love you and change you, and that is a rare thing, but every once in awhile you will come across someone who will completely rob you from your sleep and those are the people who are just too beautiful to put into words.”
Yes. So much yes.
So, here’s to the people who have inspired me, loved me and changed me. And here’s to being fortunate enough to have had a few of those rare people who have robbed me of my sleep. Cheers.