Who Has Influenced You Growing up?

This is a question I think about often and my first reply is usually my father, but in all honesty many people have influenced me in my life and this post is dedicated to them!

My Father – for always supporting me even when he knows in his mind I am totally being stupid or going to fall down on my face. He is a true parent in that he is supportive no matter what he may think about my decisions and is there for me if that particular decision fails or soars high. He has taught me to keep an open mind.

My Mother – I think I may shock her with this if she reads this post, because we often butt heads and without getting too personal on that topic. I will say that my mother influenced me in many ways. I see in my mother a true beauty waiting for her day to become a positive thinker like me. She raised me the best she could as a single mother most of my life and no matter how many bad things we have said to each other I still look up to her because she is an amazing person. She has taught me that you can move forward in life even when you think that all has failed for you.

My Aunt Michele – Now this is not a surprise, I spent many summers with my aunt and uncle. My aunt is a person who has always stated her opinions in a normal, friendly way. I like to think that often I have her sense of stating my opinion without trying to hurt others feelings. She has taught me that you can speak opinions without hurting peoples feelings and has taught me the maternal instinct I have today.

My Gram {moms mom} – I love my Gram to pieces, and we have butt heads just like my mother and I but she is a strong person with a huge maternal instinct to protect her children even as they are grown adults. I look up to her for many reasons and think I got my workaholic attitude from her. She taught me you work for what you want in life.

My Great Gram – Married for many, many years. I look up to my Grena in a way that reminds me people stay strong in life no matter what. I look up to her for her blunt way of telling me what is on her mind but also reminding me how much she loves me. She has taught me that love is unconditional.

There is a lot of hurt and pain in my life when it comes to looking back on my past with many of my family members, but when I became a mother I realized why they said/did the things they did and where they were coming from. They have influenced me in many ways without me realizing; relationships, attitude, personality and motherhood.

Thank you to all who have influenced me in life growing up, even those not mentioned, I LOVE YOU.

So who has influenced you in life?