I recently changed my profile picture on Facebook to a photo of my family and me in the London Eye with England’s House of Parliament and Big Ben in the background. It’s a great photo, with the highlight being my daughter in the middle of a spontaneous laugh.
I just checked Facebook for the first time since posting the picture a couple days ago. Like most things on Facebook that include my wife and daughter, I had several likes and comments. However, two of the comments really struck a nerve with me. Not only did these two comments make me smile, but they hit me in the gut … in a good way. It wasn’t just the comments, but who made them.
Ted Moore was my baseball coach during my 14-15-year-old seasons in Babe Ruth League. Mr. Moore was one of a handful of baseball and football coaches I had as a kid in Merritt Island, FL that made a huge impact on my life. His comment was: “So proud of you Chris, with that wonderful family.” I haven’t seen Mr. Moore in at least 30 years, but his pride in me makes my day.
Susan Perers is the mother of my high school girlfriend, Jennifer. Susan wasn’t in an official position to coach or influence me when I was hanging out at her house virtually every day during my senior year, but she did so without knowing. Her comment on Facebook was: “You did good Chris!!!” I haven’t seen Susan in about 30 years either, but I chuckled when hearing that, and felt a little taller. If she thinks I did good, then I know I did good.
Whether you signed up for it or not, you have the ability to influence kids much more than you know … or than they know. Of course, we all influence everyone in our sphere in one way or another, but kids are different. Kids need influence, and they absorb data like Watson. When you’re near a little boy or a teenage girl or a college graduate taking their first steps into the world, remember that your actions and words are being absorbed involuntarily by them. You might make an impact today, or 30 years from now. Either way, make sure you know this and choose the things you do and say very wisely.
