I know I may get in trouble for this, but it has to be said in order to make my point for the post, as it is where my inspiration hit: My dad got laid off this week. My dad has worked for the company his entire life, and they decided that they didn't need him anymore, which is pretty ungrateful of them if you ask me.
The biggest thing I have gleaned from this event, after speaking to my dad is that he made such an impact on the people that worked for him, that some of them cried when he was laid off. He didn't even cry when he was laid off. For somebody to shed tears for the unfortunate events that befall another human being... that takes a connection, a deep connection. Shallow connections are easily made and easily broken, but deeper connections take longer to form, although they can be broken on a certain level fairly easily.
I'm about to get seriously lovey-dovey here, so if you're not into it, don't read any further...
My parents are honestly two of the most amazing people I know. I teared up recently trying to explain to somebody how amazing and wonderful my parents are. They are two very different people (my mom is loud, the first on the dance floor, and fiercely protective whereas my dad is quiet, would prefer to sit and people watch, and lets my brother and I make our own mistakes before jumping in to see what he can do to help), yet they both have big hearts and open arms. It's extremely hard to explain if you don't know them, but they are warm and would do anything to help somebody else.
My dad is a volunteer fire police person, and before that, he was a volunteer fireman for years. When I have a free day and want to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, he always goes with me. He used to give blood regularly, which inspired me to continue the legacy. Whenever he had to lay anybody in his office off, he would help them to find a new job. He kept in touch with former employees, and even helped them if they needed it. He used to help me and my cast mates build sets for our theater productions in high school. My dad is amazing.
My mom gave up a job as an executive secretary, and the money that came with it, to make sure my brother and I had somebody to come home to everyday. She made us snacks, picked us up when we missed the buses (regularly), and always had a hug for us, even when she was also having a bad day. Her youngest sister passed away 4 years ago this month, and she still posts in her online memory book for every birthday and Christmas. She puts family first, and would do anything to see my brother, me, or her godson happy. She puts up with people who shouldn't even be breathing to same air as her in order to make him happy. My mom is wonderful.
My parents were always the ones that drove my friends and me around before any of us has licenses. They haven't missed a single one of my brother's football games (that's 6 years of Saturdays)! They never missed a show I was in. Each of them came to visit me, on the other side of the country, at some point during my college time. Hell, they let me go to college on the other side of the country. Both of them have given up so much to make sure my brother and I are happy and healthy human beings. They instilled in us valuing family over money, working hard, laughing easily, and helping others.
I love my parents more than they know, and I am so grateful that they are mine.
So what does all of this gushing about how wonderful my parents are have to do with making an impact?
Everything.
I want to be able to leave a legacy like the ones my parents have. They aren't perfect, but none of us are. They are amazing human beings, who give up a lot to make others happy. I experience the impact of their love every day of my life, and I see it before me. They truly want to make the world better for my brother and me, and they are doing a wonderful job of it.
I truly am the person I am because of my parents, and I want to be just like them.
