my life is a testimony

A long time ago, before I became a webgirl, before I even really knew what the internet was, I went through some drama. If I hadn't blogged about it before, I will later, or add a link to point to the blog, but right now that drama is not the point. When I was going through the drama, a friend forwarded an email to me. A message that I really needed to hear. I barely knew then how to even check my email...lol. But I managed, and read it, and it subtly changed me.

The email was pretty simple, a standard spam. And while I know somewhere, in hard copy, I still have it...it escapes me exactly where. But I do remember the gist of its message.

Right at this moment, somewhere out in this world...
someone is thinking about you and smiling...
someone is sad, because they miss you...
someone wants to talk to you...
someone remembers that you make them laugh...
someone thinks you give great hugs...
someone believes you're smarter than you think you are...

Anyway, it touched my heart, because I was pretty depressed at the time, and feeling pretty bad about myself. And I realized that no matter how desperate my situation was, someone out there loved me.

Looking back & thinking about it, I find other meanings in the message. The idea that people are watching you, and some people are emulating you. They look at your life from a completely different perspective, and no matter what you think...they may want to be in your shoes, because your shoes are prettier, or more comfortable, or already broken-in, or the heel may appear to be higher/lower. For whatever reason, your life/mylife can be a testimony to someone...

I try to be the best person I can...to feed my spirit, and to ease my own mind. At times, I think it brings me closer to the purpose that God has for me. At other times, I just do it to avoid ulcers, high blood pressure, and stress. Rarely does it cross my mind that my life may influence the path of someone observing me. Yet, I know that many people's paths...my friends & family, co-workers, internet friends...even the homeless person I have a singular chance encounter with...have influenced mine. I'm greatful that I "got" that, before I was too old to appreciate it.