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The most influential person in my life has been my mother by far. I remember when I was very young, noticing how she reacted to people with kindness and compassion. She always had words of wisdom that I, in turn, try to pass on to my children.
My earliest memories are of when she would greet people at the door. She was always friendly and kind, even if she was not pleased with their presence at the door. One day Jehovah’s Witnesses came to the door. My mother, being very Catholic, did not appreciate their constant returns. With care and kindness, she began analyzing their faith. After a few hours they left and my mother turned to say, “I think I converted them to Christianity”. She looked at me and said “See, if you treat people the same way you would like them to treat you, then you will always be able to make new friends.” She always told me, “If you are careful how you talk to people and treat them with respect, the response you will get will most likely be positive.”
As I grew older, I remember her frequently telling me to try new things. Try new food; try new experiences and going new places. It may be scary at first but that is how you grow as a person. We should always try to improve at being better people.
I remember clearly the day my mother was diagnosed with cancer. I went to see her in the hospital. She didn’t look scared, although she probably was, she did not show it. She spoke calmly about how she will be experiencing new things and going to new places. She said she would be able to talk to all the people that we knew who were already where she was going. She assured me that she would tell my high school sweetheart, (my first love Wanda) how much I missed her, and that she would be able to help Wanda look out for me. That is an amazing person. Even on her death bed she was comforting me, telling me the things that she would still be able to do for me, and never asked anything from me in return!
Now if I grow up to be half the person that she was, then I will be the person she hoped I would be.
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