Who's the most influential person in your life?
 

As a sort of corollary to the "Most Influential Person" thread in Tilted Philosophy, I was curious about who you guys found most influential for you on a personal level, and why. That bypasses easy answers like "Albert Einstein" or "Jesus," or "Siddartha," I figure.

For me, it's been a co-worker of mine who's helped me immensely in making job contacts, one of which looks like it might hit paydirt. This might be kind of dry or boring to y'all, but in these economic times, an influential friend is a make-or-break difference when looking for employment, and he's been more helpful than he'll probably ever know. I've been working as an intern for almost a year now, and living with my folks, not enough money for much of a social life, etc. It would be like winning the lottery at this point.

My girlfriend. She's helped me a lot and I know I can get a good answer from her or piece of advice. She's really a charm.

My grandfather. It's just a shame he died a few years back.

myself.

I had a few teachers that made an impression on me. My music teacher was probably the most influential. He taught me to expand my thinking when it came to music. He had a sign on his desk that read "Just because you're born square, doesn't mean you have to remain square."

But, the most influential person in my life would have to be my dad. i know it sounds sappy, but it's the truth. He started me along the path of Scouting and has kept me involved past the point of Eagle. I'm now invovled at the District and Council levels and it has turned out to be quite rewarding.

Overall, he's a good guy with a great outlook on life and when I grow up (which will never happen;) ), I wanna be just like him.


I know, say it with me...
AAWWWWWWWWWWW!!

My grand mother, she was a amazing woman, and I think of her everyday

My greatest influences, personally, are my mother and my fiance. I guess I'm a momma's boy. (okay, I KNOW I'm a momma's boy). My mother has always just been a very calm, guiding force, even when we don't get along - and always seems to have the solution to my biggest problems. My fiance is my support system - she has utmost faith in me in everything I do, especially at times when I don't have faith in myself.

Professionally, I have an acting professor who would just throw out little pearls of wisdom from his years and years of teaching and performing. When I first took a class of his, I had just met him and didn't realize just how smart he was. When I took another class with him some three years later, I kept a notebook on my lap at all times just to write down the things he said (without realizing he was saying anything profound). Even now, when we talk on the phone, I keep post-its next to me in case he says something else useful.

The most influential person for me would have to be a guy I worked with when I was an apprentice mechanic. He convinced management to keep me around after another guy wanted me to be fired, and then he worked with me to not only make me a better mechanic but a better person. Four years later, and I still consult him if I need honest advice about something.

my parents.

they have three boys, all three evil. they've done everything for me possible plus more. i've rarely (less than 5% of the time) been hospitalized alone.

they still sacrafice for me. my brothers also. all three of all equal.

it amazes me how they do it.

Definately my parents!

My parents first and foremost because they have been married for 33 years and are still as much as in love as the day they met.

Second, it would be a college professor of mine. He was one of the smartest men I have ever met and taught me how to critically think and analyze a situation. He was not the smoothest on the social richter scale, but he knew how to get you to think.

my cousin.

definitely my parents.
great people... if i turned out as half as great as my dad, i´ll die happy!

**edit**

oh, and this is going to sound a bit weird... and its not like he´s the BIGGEST influence in my life... but the Michael Jackson lyric in my sig certainly played a significant factor in my life.

my husband

integrity is his forte

In order,

My father,
My mother,
My wife

My wife is third probably just because I have known here only 6 years, whilst my parents have been around all 33...

Mr Mephisto

Well the question was present tense, so the answer is..no one.
I march to the beat of my own drummer--that's not a boast, just the truth.

But past tense, my dad.
Why? I saw him as incredibly bright, funny, caring. I idolized him.

Now I'm a grown up, I still think he's pretty cool, but I see him as a human being, through adult eyes. I see his frailties. On the one hand it makes wanting to be like him more attainable, but on the other, I see defects (like his unwillingness to forgive) that I don't wish to emulate.

My Dad. Sounds corney I know. He's been there through all my ups and downs. No matter what the situation, he is a rock and handles himself with the highest level of integrity.

:) i do too. i'm my own influential person. sometimes, i like it, sometimes i don't. but that's just the way it is.

my wife of 31 years--and if I had it to do all over again---man, I don;t know if this old ticker could handel it, but I sure would try---

My husband and my boss/mentor. They've both guided me through some really tough times and a lot of growth experiences.

In order:

1. double ;) (she was the best person to talk to back than)
2. my ex-wife (she helped me to move abroad and start my carrier)
3. my parents (they didn't let my potential go to waste in some crappy school)

My Mother


No questions asked.

My old Boss and my wife. Without a doubt, they have had the single greatest impact on my life - both amazing people!

lurkette, my dad, and my friend Phil, in that order.

lurkette and dad are pretty obvious. I should say some more about Phil, though.

Have you every had somebody in your life who knows who you are and what you're capable of, even when you don't know it or won't believe it yourself? Somebody who calls you forth as the person you <i>really</i> are instead of the bundle of worries and snivelling little personal concerns that you would otherwise walk around being? And who, at the same time, confides THEIR worries and snivelling concerns, and gives you room to stand for THEM being everything THEY are? That's who Phil is for me. Amazing guy.

Currently I would have to say my wife.

I have been on my own since I was 15, never really had a mentor of any kind. Put myself through school and worked full time.

My mom and dad have been a great influence on my life. They're mostly responsible for influencing the choices I have made and will make (and they've usually been good choices).

those goddamn HS English teachers fucked me for life.

My mom, because she taught me how to forgive people, and Bob Dylan because he taught me why.

My friends probably have the most influence over me. Not like peer pressure or anything but they help me make decisions and I help them. I learn from their mistakes. We all encourage eachother. I seriously don't know what I would do with out them.

My girlfriend. She has completely changed my outlook on the world and the people in it.

bill clinton

he showed me that you can be powerful and have fun

My mom, because she's the greatest mom anyone could ask for.

Top three:

1. My father - taught me to take responsibility for those under your care, and to treat them right.

2. My mother - showed me how to be caring without being a pushover.

3. My ex-girlfriend - made me learn that nothing is what it seems.

professionlly...a processor for typography

emotionally...myself

daddy

My father. enough said.

me, oh, and the large breasted naked woman across the street who ocasionally leaves her curtains open.

Definately my Dad

I'd have to say a specific friend of mine. And not so much now, we actually had some problems and didn't talk for a few years, but before all this happened. She made me want to be a better person. And now she's like a freakin role model, having a full class load, getting a 4.0 and working 40 hours a week, plus maintaining a long term relationship. She's like god damn superwoman, I wish I was that productive...