Who has been the most influential person in your life?

I can think of no one more influential that my Dad.

To paraphrase a line from a Keanu Reeves movie: Any asshole can become a father, but it takes a real man to be a Dad.

my MOM. she is amazing. she does it all. she has her own knitting business. knitting. her number one hobbie. and she does it for a living now. because again, she is amazing. she runs a small farm of goats, sheep, and chickens. she makes and sells goat cheese, yogurt, eggs, and wool. she volunteers constantly at an old folks home. they absolutely love her. everyone does. she is always making or baking something to give away. she’s been through a divorce and never said one bad word about my dad and remains in good contact with him still. she has 3 kids who live in 3 different time zones and she has never once uttered a single word eluding to the fact that they should move back closer to her (and believe me, so many of my friends struggled to gain their parents approval before moving away, and still do even after they’re gone! ridiculous!) she’s supportive, so generous, extremely kind and understanding….i’m choked up just writing this! 2 fist pumps for mom!

she has “changed” or molded me over the course of my life so far to be more like her. she’s inspirational in so many ways.

My Dad – he took on my recently widowed Mum and her four kids (of which I was the youngest), and transformed our lives. We were penniless when we met him, Mum was at her wits end, and I can’t imagine us kids were much help. But Dad gathered us in, married Mum, legally adopted us his own children a year later, and they have never looked back. His financial savvy meant that Mum never had to worry about money ever again (they’ve never been rich, but he’s sensible with money and they’ve never had any debt to speak of).

We kids were able to take all opportunities that came my way, which is how I ended up being a musician. My Dad’s not musical at all, but his support through years of practice, going to orchestra and other musical groups after school, etc etc (not to mention buying the instruments) gave me the ability to blossom.

If only my birth-father were still alive, I’d be an interesting case of nature vs nurture, as I am SO strongly like my Dad – he’s been the biggest influence in my life by far.

My dad.He taught me to be strong. ;)

Every time I’m asked this question, or “who do you look up to?”, I can never think of anyone. I haven’t modeled my life after anyone, and I don’t have role models that I look to for guidance. I feel kind of weird not having anyone like that.

Probably my wife. I wasn’t too much of a thinker before her, and after being together a while she prompted me to better myself in many ways. I ended up becoming a volunteer firefighter/EMT for several years at her urging, going back to school, and just all around becoming a more likable, intelligent, thoughtful, mellower person. Many others have had positive impacts on my life, but never one person who helped facilitate so many things of which I’m proud.

My Dad. I finally learned how his motto works “You don’t have to like everything that happens to you, but you do have to make the best of it” That was his version of making lemonade.

All three of my parents. Despite their many flaws, they’re awesome people.

No question; my Mom.

@YARNLADY Ha! Your dad sounds a lot like mine!

My mom. She has taught me to be a very hard worker, and to be supportive of peoples dreams. She’s a great person. (:

My Dad. Gone 27 years, and still has a profound impact on every decision I make.

My older sister for pressing me to make decisions based upon my own opinion; a boss who never waivered in managing people through the good or the bad; and my fiance who continues to teach me bits about life I should probably already know without judgement for my ignorance.

My shrink, he was a pastoral counselor really, not a shrink as in psychiatrist. He helped me to find my innate ability to cope and conquer, to live and let live, to be me and not worry if that me was enough for anyone except myself. I could go on and on.

My parents were good people and strongly and positively influential in my life but they had their own issues, so I don’t feel as if I am who I am today because of their influence.

My closest friend. She has amazing potential and I refuse to let her waste it because she doesn’t want to put the effort in or doesn’t believe in herself. So I endure through everything I do because even if it means failing, so long as it encourages her to work a fraction as hard as I have i’ll consider myself successful.

My wife.

I’m convinced I’d be a pretty terrible person if not for her.

Me. The wife comes in second.

My parents (in spite of their weaknesses): my mom is a strong woman and my dad is a forgiving infobase!
They have made me understand that even though life is tough, you don’t have to be somber – one has got to just work hard and be nice!!