Some times small ideas hit us in a big way. Yet most of us miss these important influences as we wait for the fireworks and ground-shaking that for some reason we believe must signal the truly momentous experiences in our lives. But, there is much to be found when we dive into the quiet richness of life. The only tricky part is that we need to put aside our grandiose notions of what our great influences should look like, in order to notice who and what really prompted our growth and evolution. Athletes and explorers are glamorous role models, but most of us were probably more affected by the kid who sat behind us in third grade. I decided to take a brief inventory of some real-life people who brought me closer to feeling the One Life by planting a part of their consciousness in mine. Our connection persists even when we are separated by time, distance, and in one case, the passing on from this life. These gifts may seem small at first, but the gratitude I feel for them is enormous.

First, I would like to thank Larry Hagman, co-star of my favorite childhood TV show. As ridiculous as I Dream of Genie  was, once I realized that running around in a harem costume was a somewhat questionable way to make a living, it was the image of Major Nelson that made me buckle down and eventually work for the space program. I knew that I could become whatever I wanted.

Next, is Cathy Green, our neighbor across the street who used to baby sit for my brother and me. Once she asked us what our favorite part of the ice cream cone was. Hmmm...I never thought of favoring one part over the other, but when pressed, I went with the ice cream. Her favorite part was the very tip of the cone. She taught me how to appreciate simple pleasures, and to this day, I can't finish an ice cream cone without thinking of Cathy.

Then there was my camp buddy, Caryn, who told me when we were around 12 years old that 17 was a good age to loose your virginity, and that we should decide then on the number of men we would sleep with before getting married. I won't tell you what that number was, but I will say that when I was just one shy, I was really careful about who I hooked up with...and then I met my husband. I learned that life was in my power and everything that happens to me now is probably based on something I decided many years ago on the bus ride to camp.

In college, I met Dr. Cotton, my freshman Physics professor who saw something more in me, when I got a "substandard" grade on his final exam. Physics was supposed to be my major, and anything short of perfection was unacceptable to me. Rather than write me off as a whiney, or worse yet, average student, he told me I had an ability to communicate and connect with people that would carry me beyond where most of his "A" students would go in life, and with a little more time, my physics would improve as well. I learned that some things were out of my power--at least consciously--but I could trust life to bear some of the responsibility for what happens to me.

Finally, I have to acknowledge Beverly. She was an older classmate of mine in graduate school and at the time, she seemed much wiser for her years. She was probably all of thirty, but I was only twenty-two. She had her own condo, her own money--a really adult life. And, she was single. One time I asked her how she liked living alone. She told me that, no matter what, you always have a partner in your life.  At times it's a boyfriend or lover, other times a roommate, relative or friend. But there is always someone with whom you have an unwritten agreement to take each other to the airport, keep copies of each other's keys, and generally know when the other person was coming or going. It made me feel good to know that we can be independent but we are never alone. The idea stuck with me so deeply that I seek to fill this role whenever I can, not for myself, but for the joy of being there for others.

Karen