There were some people along my path that helped me become the person I am today. If I talked about all them you wouldn't get to read to end of this post, but I do want to mention a few stand outs that crossed my path.
First my third grade teacher, Montene Dickey. She loved to read and she tried and with me it was success to pass along the love to read. The Pippi Longstocking books are what hooked me. And because (and I have no idea why) I rode the "early bus" I had to leave school before the end of reading time. I didn't like it so I got my grandmother to walk part way to the school and I talked my parents into letting me walk home from school. My teacher would watch me walk away from the school from the play ground until I would turn around and wave at her that I could see my grandmother down the sidewalk. Wasn't that an amazing thing? I think so and I read A LOT of books. I don't have a photo of her, but this was my grammar school.
Another teacher that comes to mind is Ms. Barbara Burton. I still dislike world geography, but I LOVE the constitution. She instilled a deep love for freedom and respect for the forsight of our founding father's drafting of the constitution and the bill of rights. I will always love her for that. And I'm thankful that I had the opportunity as an adult to tell her how much that meant to me.
Then there is Louise Ashurst. She was a Sunday School teacher I loved. She made me love to sing hymns, love to read my Bible and instired me to teach Sunday School which I have been doing for 29 years now. And she was brave enough to take all of us kids (with some additional adults to the beach for a camping trip) Today in my church a class is named after her. It's Called Louise's garden. She planted a lot of seeds let me tell you.(photo left)
My real estate teacher... His name was Bob Greer. And he was an amazing teacher. First of all he had a LOT of experience to back up his teaching which is very important I think. And while he did teach me what I needed to know to pass the test (with 97%) he also taught me a lot of what I would need to know to be a good agent and a good Broker and eventually a good instructor.
There was also Fabian Fain. He was my first "real" full time pay my own bills boss. I mean I had lots of jobs before that one, but my parents were still supporting me before this job. I got it about two weeks before I got married and began to support myself fully without my parents. He was considered a bit rough for a boss as the principal of the middle school where I was working at the time. He was tough on teachers, but he did what he did for the good of the children in the school But how that helps me now is in real estate, it's about the clients and it showed me the importance of truly prioritizing who comes first. Thankfully I also had the opprtunity to thank him as well.
I could keep going for days and people who shaped the me I am today. But that "it takes a village" well it extends into your adult life as well. Not only did the people I encountered as a child help mold me into who I am, but still today people I run across can change who I am and make me more aware of something and change my thoughts on something. When that happens or when you encounter kindness... it's important to remember to thank them when you have the chance.
That third grade teacher and my real estate instructor both passed away without my personally thanking them for what they did for ME. So while this is my "thankful for my village of people" post it's also a gentle reminder to thank people while you still can.
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