I never looked at the people we meet on our journey through life as gifts before, but when you think about it, they really are. Some become mentors, while others become life-partners, best friends, role-models, intermediaries, cheerleaders, confidantes and soul mates. And all of us have people in our lives who beg the question, “Where would I be if I hadn’t met this person or that person?” Sometimes, I think about this, and it makes me shudder to think about how my life would have turned out if I hadn’t met a certain person. So, yes, these people are gifts, and we need to be thankful for them. Now, what about the jerks that pop up in our life? The person who cuts us off in traffic, the person who treats you rudely or the person who drives off at a four-way stop before it’s their turn. Are they gifts as well? The answer is, “Yes they are.” They were put in our lives to serve as bad examples—people you don’t want to emulate. And yes, we need to be thankful for them as well.

One Sentence Wisdom

• “People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.” — Brian A. “Drew” Chalker
• “Being a role model is a privilege.” — Allyson Felix

If you know of someone who you think would enjoy reading my Reminder, please forward it to them. Also, feel free to use this content in your own publications—newsletters, blogs, etc.