Meaningful people

A while back I had lunch with a friend for the first time in three years.  When we said our goodbyes she said, "I just decided I was going to spend more time with the people that are meaningful in my life".  I was really honored to be on what I felt was a dignified and important list. When I had time to reflect, I thought I don't have a list of meaningful people in my life.  Another thought was: is it possible that everyone has a list of meaningful people except for me? Although I pride myself in self-realization, at that moment I recognized that I had no clue what the word "meaningful" even means to me. 

I am not sure what unique word I use for my list of people I want to honor, probably nothing, so I think I should use the word meaningful.  I like the word, but I am not sure of its true meaning.  A quick google search states "meaningful" is serious, important and useful in some way. I realize I have a mental list of people that are "important" to me, just like my friend has a meaningful list.  

As I was wandering around on google, I found a statement that basically said: by creating your own meaningful moments, you will have a richer life. The science behind it is to not wait for someone else to make the first move or for a situation to spontaneously occur. I found that interesting, I actually like spontaneity in my life.  I love to decide to do something and, in a few minutes, I am doing it.  I am never afraid to make the first move to make something happen.  Sending a text or email because I had a thought pop into my head is how I often roll.  I guess, this is how I make meaningful moments happen that give me a richer life. Creativity and productivity are two words that are serious, important and useful for me.    

My takeaway is, I like the word meaningful, and I am going to start to use it more. I believe a meaningful person is like my friend; someone that is important and provides information that is useful for me. I am attracted to people that enhance my life, simply by knowing them.  I love having conversations that teach me something or make me aware of a new perspective. If I were to say one thing, I feel illiterate about, it would be world geography.  Social Studies was never my strongest subject in school.  It was one of those courses where I would learn the information for the exam and then promptly forget it. I am in awe of people's stories about travel, experiences and opportunities.  I find I live vicariously through their words.   

                              

Being meaningful means you have touched the lives of others in some way.  It would be very easy for me to make a list of people that have touched my life.  Those people are usually someone that is unaware of how they have impacted me or others.  They just get up every day to have a better day and make a better place for others.   

                            

So, what on earth are you going to takeaway from this post? If you feel you don't have a meaningful life or aren't meaningful to others, then just do some reflecting.  Everyone is important to someone.  You must have a purpose, and know what that purpose is.  It doesn't have to be huge it can be simple yet meaningful to you and to others. It doesn't sound that hard to have a meaningful life with meaningful people in it, so let's just do it!