Touching others’s lives positively

Whether by design or through our normal, everyday interactions with others, we all touch peoples’ lives in one way or another.

Very few of us do realise the extent to which we affect those around us and we would do well to reflect on how we are influenced by our family, friends, acquaintances and experiences at all levels.

Family and friends teach us social skills and develop our confidence.

Acquaintances give us opportunities to grow our authenticity and integrity.

Lessons about ways of interacting and showing respect for the opinions, strengths and weaknesses of others grow us.

But often we don’t pay enough attention to these effects and influences, to the detriment of meaningful awareness and informed reactions.

Significant points in this regard are made in Vishwas Chavan’s Vishwasutras: Universal Principles for Living:

“Your success is directly proportional to the number of lives you have touched for the better.”

See also Pat Patrick’s Awakening the Dream Within:

“In life, we leave a legacy to our children, we leave our footprints wherever we travel, and we leave our fingerprints on every heart we touch.”

With some reflection, each of us should readily be able to recall and appreciate many of those who have touched our lives in positive and uplifting ways.

While some of the academic experiences in classrooms certainly had a role to play, it is life’s lessons along the way that often remain indelibly imprinted in our psyches.

Even conflicts, fights and seemingly unfair treatment on occasion have played their part in moulding us, and their perpetrators have also touched our lives in ways that only become apparent upon reaching maturity and the wisdom of the “golden years”. Many sports coaches and mentors in the creative and performing arts have touched lives in considerable and enduring ways.

Skills have been nurtured and honed, healthy attitudes and sportsmanship developed, and the wonderful values of support and teamwork encouraged.

Those involved in teaching in the broad sense, are surely entitled to derive a healthy sense of worthwhile achievement. This undeniable influence is captured by Mastshona Dhilway: “When you touch minds, people are willing to walk a dozen miles for you; and when you touch hearts, people are willing to walk a thousand miles for you; but when you touch souls, people are willing to walk a million miles for you.”

Many lives are sublimely touched by pets whose devotion and loyalty that know no bounds greatly enhance the quality of life of many humans.

Unfortunately, some fall prey to brainwashing and other forms of populist deception during their life paths, effectively reflecting the dark side of touching lives.

Fortunately for most of us, when we reflect on how our lives have been touched, the focus is usually on the positive and uplifting experiences that have helped to define us . . . . . those that have led us to value and live life to the full.

This sense is depicted by Ashley Smith: “Life is full of beauty.

Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces.

Smell the rain, and feel the wind. “Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”