Helpful or Influential People in Your Life

My mother having words with her llama during a llama trekking trip

Recently I repurposed a room in my home that falls into the Helpful People and Travel area of the Bagua Map according to the Feng Shui principles. While working in this room I wanted to honor and express gratitude to some of the people who had helped or influenced me in my life journey.

I started making a list – there are so many.

Every interaction we have impacts our lives. I am grateful for the diversity of people who have passed through my life.

Family

My first set of helpful and influential people are my family members.

My mother was a huge influence. The longer I live the more I appreciate all that she taught me about the importance of family, sticking to values when things get tough, and enjoying the life that we have. I gather that she was a bit of a free thinker when she was young. She raised three of us girls and one boy. She must have done a pretty good job because we are all still very close and I know that any and all would have my back if I needed it. As we left home and she became a widow, she started traveling with friends and enjoying her later years.

My husbands were also a great influence in my development. Each one appeared in my life at the right time and taught me a lot about how to live my life.

Friends/mentors

I think that every close friend influences my life. They make me feel alive and I know that they are there to support me when needed.

One friend, Cindy Lou Harrington, was someone that I admired but did not hang out with that much. She was also a teacher. But she also followed her dream and became a singer and songwriter. I would go to every concert that was local. One of the song lyrics stated, “you will never change if you stay the same.” She gave me the courage to retire and start a new line of work.

Another teacher, Kim Hyden, opened my eyes on how best to teach. I had already been teaching for many years and was at that time an inclusion teacher for special education. When I came into most classrooms, the teachers would have me work with my special education students and maybe one or two more. They might even have us go out into the hall for our lesson. Kim had four of my students and except for the one in the wheelchair you would never know which ones were “special”. Whenever I was in her room, I worked on whatever lesson was going on at the time. Kim had her first-grade students work with manipulatives. She had them explore and discover their own answers. When students asked a question, she would help them find the answer instead of just telling them.

Public figures

While public figures are usually people you never meet, they can influence your life.

I admire Katherine Hepburn. She was liberal-minded and not afraid to speak out and be unconventional. Katherine Hepburn’s book “Me” is one of the few books that I keep. She influenced me to feel free to express myself.

Jackie Kennedy was another influence in my life. I liked that her life ambition was "not to be a housewife." She had her own persona instead of just being the President’s wife. I loved her elegance. As a military wife at the time I admired how she dressed and carried herself.

Challenge

I challenge you to take some time to list some of the influential people in your life. If they are still living, reach out and tell them how special they are.

And think about how you influence and help others. I am surprised but grateful when someone reaches out to me and tells me that I have influenced them or given them something to aspire towards.

If you are ready to work on completing or reworking a project and want some tips, encouragement, or accountability join Diane Quintana and me in our Clear Space For You virtual clutter support group. You could complete a small project or set up an organizing plan during the call. The group will offer ideas, support, and gentle accountability for working on developing plans or projects.

Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients.