Today I had a really nice coffee catchup with a couple of nice friends. We were talking about all kinds of good stuff, sipping coffee, eating toast, playing with cute small people. Ace. It really felt super nice to be talking about good stuff with good people. It felt happy and positive. Sometimes life is a bit snarky, people are bit cynical, chats are a bit bitchy or tired or bitter or gossipy. Sometimes things seem a bit stuck or hopeless, but not today. Today was really all about important moments, special times, good people and how nice it can be to truly connect with other awesome humans!
We were telling lots of different stories, between the toast and the teaspoons, about our lives and the lives of people we know. It was really interesting and really fun. As we chatted, I started wondering about the things that make us who we are, how our identity forms and who influences us to be the people we become (apart from our immediate family).
We were chatting about how people can come into your life and completely divert you, in a really good way. Do you know what I mean? Sometimes you will encounter someone, and they might not play a huge part in your life, in terms of intimacy or time spent together (although sometimes they DO!) … but they make a huge impact on you and who you want to be. There is something about the someone that opens your eyes to the world in new ways. Sometimes you don’t even know who you want to be until you meet these someones. But when you meet them or see how they see things it all becomes a lot clearer. Very often the someone does not even know what they did. But what they did was momentous, to you.
These someones are so important because they connect with you in a particular way, they make you feel important and unique, or they live their life in a way that seems pretty amazing or (dare I use that much over-used blog favourite?!) inspiring to you.
Do you have someones in your life like this? Do you have people you have met, who have such a profound influence on you, that you never forget the moments you spent together, the way they were or the things they ‘gave’ you? Or perhaps they just pointed you in a new direction, without really even saying anything, but rather by their own awesome example. Do you think we meet these people by chance? Or do you believe it’s all pre-destined in some kind of way?! Don’t you think it’s interesting that people you may only spend a couple of hours with can actually change your view of the world? Does this make any sense to you? Do you ever think about the someones in your life?!
I am going to write about some of my someones later this week. Let me know if you write about yours too!
xx Pip
I, like Jennifer, have come to this post rather late – but I think possibly for a reason.
Today I wrote a reference letter for my trainer (one of my someones, and now my friend) as he is trying to expand his business and he needs some glowing reports from people to support his rent application. Something tells me he won't be short of willing referees!
He is one of the toppest blokes ever. I never thought trying to lose some weight would cause me to meet a person that has shaped aspects of my life other than my body shape.
Pip, your comments are so poignant after writing that letter. I'm so happy to have read it. And I love the way you express yourself (I totes agree with Nurhayathxcy that you are a bit of a shaper for me as well). This is one of my favourite posts of yours ever.
I'm quite late to comment on this, but I have two wonderful friends that I would never have met if I hadn't lost my job. My manager and coworker at the part time job I found two months after being made redundant… we became and still are so close two years later. We helped each other through some rough times, and are still there for each other though I haven't worked with them since last November… I terribly miss seeing them several times a week.
Hello Pip.
Hello everyone.
Pip you are definitely one of the ace people in my life. We never met and I only know you through your blog posts. But you have helped me discover heaps of wonderful things to do in life like sewing and crocheting. All of these made me realize that I don't need lots of money to be happy. Thank you very much Pip. Please stay awesome the way you are 🙂
Lots of love from Malaysia <3
I really like what Margaret said. And along the lines of what Wimcee said, my someone's would def be crafty peeps online -those I know and those I don't. Discovering this world & craftster years ago changed my life & was so affirming for me. I sat there for hours with my then wee-baby on my lap thinking things like, "there's people out there just like me! who can't stop thinking of ideas! There's people out there who want to make stuff just to try it!" and on and on. So good.
i'm so glad you brought the someones to the light of day. there are times when i'm not really aware that i've met a someone until a little while after.
often whatever they've given me makes more sense over time.
i'm very happy about these encounters, they make life so much richer : )
Thanks Pip for reminding me to think of those someones, I know exactly what you mean and do think about them sometimes and wonder if they have any idea that they could have had such a profound effect. It is interesting isn't it! I look forward to hearing about some of your someones.
"the shapers"…… I really like that Kirsty! That's just right. Sue
After some tiresome time last week/this week chasing up insurance claims after a break-in this was such a nice, nurturing bit of blogging to read, thank-you so much…a 'reason' right there perhaps – maybe we don't even have to meet the people who shape us here and there in big and little ways.
when I teach the friendship unit to my Year 7's we talk about friends that you have for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Lifetimers you can count on one hand, seasonal friends can come and go, and then there are those people that you meet for reason.
I can't wait to read about your someone!
…I think about these someones ALL THE TIME. I call them the shapers.
& honestly I think MOST of them don't know they are/were shaping the person I am/want to be. x