How Many Lasting Impressions Do You Leave?

Recently, it was my BIRTHDAY!  I was reminded of the adage that each of our lives (unintentionally and intentionally) impacts many others--exponentially, like ripples in water.  Many times, we leave "lasting impression" with people.

     With my birthday in August, I have the zodiac sign of Leo.  I seem to know lots of Leos.  A friend, Jason Elliot, posted something heartfelt on Fbook (he's an amazing fellow, whose heart gives a lot).  I completely agree with ALL of his suggestions—and his mindset!  It restores your faith in "true giving".  He wrote: "I'm being asked what I want to be gifted.  I like memories, stories, experiences!  I don't necessarily need objects, trinkets or material goods.  Instead, I'm asking for…
1.  Seeing the people I love getting to know other people I love.  
2.  I love memories, especially through photos.  Share photos on my Fbook wall of how we met.
3.  I would happily accept bow ties or crazy dress socks, and I love a bottle of wine.
4.  Simply do something nice for someone you see.  Pay for the lunch of the person behind you in line.  Grab someone a coffee just because.  Call a friend.  Buy a bouquet of flowers for a random elderly person."

     His ideas make me happy.  They involve the giving of yourself to make the day a little brighter for a person/people around you.  Exponentially, that triggers wonderful energy.  Just like the story in the News, where a customer at a Florida Starbuck's drive-through bought a coffee and paid in advance for whatever the person behind them was going to get.  That succession of generosity (everyone paying for the next person behind them) continued for 11 hours, influencing 378 customers!  A small random act of kindness!  Those employees/customers will carry that experience/memory with them.  Just like you might remember the biggest gratuity you ever got from a generous customer.  
     It also makes me wonder how many lasting impressions I've knowingly and unconsciously given to this world.

     Its brings to mind a thoughtfully-crafted gift, given to me on my "silver 25th quarter-of-a-century" birthday.  A dear friend asked friends, coworkers, employees at my favorite stores/eateries, and mentors for anecdotes about ways in which I impacted them.  Here it is for your reading enjoyment.  May it inspire you to make someone's life pleasantly more memorable! ...

{Leos are the "fixed" sign of the element Fire (each element has 4 zodiac signs), best related to “a bonfire in its appropriate place, around which everyone can gather for warmth, protection and levity”.  The most dominant, spontaneously creative and extroverted of all the zodiacal characters.  In grandeur of manner, splendor of bearing and magnanimity of personality, they are the monarchs among humans, as the lion is king of beasts.  There is no doubt in their vocabularies, yet they are self-controlled.  Born leaders, they are most effective when in a position of organizing/ command; their personal magnetism and courtesy brings out the best loyalty from others.  Leonians think and act bigger than others would normally dare; the ambitiousness of their schemes and idealism sometimes daunt others.  Abiding by moral law and "fair play", they are upright.  They may become obstinate in upholding traditional beliefs and will cling tenaciously, but with complete sincerity, to values, practices and ideals which some regard as absurd.  Add to them a passion for luxury, unlimited sexual lust, and emotional indulgence, yet their tendencies are balanced by an instinctive wisdom.  Physically, Leos are slender but well-proportioned, graceful in movement, athletic, their hair is a feature of pride, and they have a strong voice.  They dress to impress.  Leos have a bottomless well of energy, dislike menial tasks, offer superb hospitality, enjoy parties, have emotions that can be turbulent and dramatic, are able to fix things, expect others to respect their territory, and display courage and strength.  They work hard, motivate/charm others to want to work hard for them, are generous with praise, enjoy showing people how to do things, and won’t tolerate laziness.  Leos can be stars of stage/screen.  With people they hold dear, they are attentive, radiant with happiness, and will protect them.  A Leo’s starstone (not necessarily the birthstone) is the Ruby, known as a stone of nobility.}

Here’s what everyone else had to say:

Never a dull moment when Ken is around.  He is a sheer bundle of joy.

Sophisticated, high-energy and always smart.

Cute with a big smile for everyone.

Tall, suave and debonair.

Ken’s very easy.  He’s quite sure of himself and doesn’t need to flaunt himself.

People like Ken have nothing to prove.  It’s the “wanna-be’s” that have attitudes.

Very fast on the computer, and faster with an engine!

Drives like James Bond.

His are ideas that make you dream. 

Hot and has brains. 

Loves “creating ambiance”.  I think he owns stock in candle companies.

He remembers little things you mention in casual conversation.  It takes you by surprise!
Ken has a spontaneous flow of good affection, kindness & civility.

A salesman of happiness.  A few of his icy martinis don’t hurt either.

He invariably gets everyone laughing.  That’s something very, very special.

Old-fashioned traits that make you think he is the quiet type, yet he has a sparkle and fire!

He loves beauty: in people, architecture, art, music, craftsmanship and presentation.

Ken has the most beautiful bedroom eyes and a great, very coy smile.  Full of life.

There isn’t anyone who can make him feel insecure.  He’s not afraid of being laughed at.  That encourages me to try things.

Ken’s different: he’s a master of compartmentalization.

He helps you wake up... with a morning run... or something else athletic!

Ken might visit the country, but I don’t think he’d be too happy too far from a city.  He just likes the city’s mix, the energy level, the purveyors, the openings, the discoveries.

Ken told me that we owe it to ourselves to get out and experiment because how else are we to find out what we’re good at and what gives us joy?

His abilities to complete a high volume of work in short time are outstanding.  He taught me so much.

Despite his sometimes machine-gun candor, he co-operates extremely well.

That’s the way our customer is supposed to look!  I simply love him!

He’s very natural.  The look he has is all his own. 

Ken effortlessly summons class and privilege.  True and constant.

A gentleman born, not made.

He helps people and is never envious of those who excel: he’s genuinely happy for them.

One who gives but seldom takes, whom Goodness never quite forsakes.

I keep telling him that he should be an actor, with such facial expression and personality! 

There’s something about his smile that makes you want to be drawn into it for hours.

mmmmmm, the things i would let him do to me.... (shhh don't tell my boyfriend)!

Whenever I’m around him, he makes me feel all playful and full of life.

He’s fun to talk with, and just to be around.  He should live closer to me.

He keeps his own life in good order, with room leftover for everyone else!

Trust his instincts and judgment.

Loves history!

When he speaks, he can take you to a specific time and place with great passion. 

Ken loves being out at night—like it’s intimately his.

For such a young guy, he has this amazing appreciation of wine. 

What college grad has espresso spoons and martini glasses?  He’s a truly gay bôn-vivant. 

I always read what Ken writes: it’s always an adventure.

Even if he can’t do something well, he’s not embarrassed to keep trying. 

He’s eager to learn, he’s curious, and he has a ravenous appetite for accomplishment.

Ken’s great at letting out the kid in himself, simply enjoying life and having plain fun!

He possesses warmth, innocence and a beautiful spirit.

Shines as a true professional.

Extremely ticklish! 

Always on the prowl for good times, with a frisky and playful attitude!
A good archer is not known by his arrows, but by his aim.

In the midst of everything.  

Enjoys gadgets.

People are always coming up to him to say hello; they go out of their way to greet him.

Ever see The Bishop’s Wife?  Well, that’s Ken: he shows up and brightens up everything around him.

Ken has sunrise eyes that radiate joy.

Where did they grow him?  I WANT ONE!!!!

Playful teasing, witty sarcasm and one-liners—all with perfect timing and delivery.

A smile that could light up a city, a wink that could make my underwear pull itself down! 

Despite his serious side, I’d consider him pretty damn chill!

If you talk to him in a way that you wouldn’t appreciate yourself, you can piss off.

He doesn't judge others and he's willing to look beneath a cover.

This guy’s strong without being confrontational and gentle without being weak.

Even when he doesn’t agree with something, he doesn’t ignore it.

Ken likes being “in the know”.

Speeds around in his immaculate car.   

He is a person to confide in.  A sincere listener.

Just going out to do something with him can be energizing and thrilling.  He suggests something you wouldn’t ordinarily do—he might not know how to get there or has never done it before, but he’s up for it … and it just works out.  It’s so different from your normal life, but every time I hang with him, I want to do it more!

His results are so quirky and uniquely beautiful—I’m always touched by what he does.

Going on gut instinct and not always reason has served Ken well. 

His time is forever, everywhere his place.

He takes the time to write me these debonair little notes. 

Whenever I need it, he provides that soothing, well-spoken voice. 

I’ve nicknamed him Vocal Velvet.

Flashing brown eyes and a voice that purrs.

Collects pictures and loves to share them online, bringing us into his orbit. 

It’s in his nature to bring people together…as part of Ken's festival of life!

I remember asking Ken why he enjoyed his new job so much more than his old one.  He said “I am repulsed at the thought of sitting in a cubicle, deprived of my freedom, ceasing to be master of my own time, and being compelled to force the content of my whole life into paper forms that don’t add up to anything.” And I’m happy that he did something about it. He’s not the type to be a “cog in a wheel”.

Tactful in that he doesn't take any crap from uppity “chiefs”.  He must have nine lives!

He befriends everyone from busboys to CEOs; he loves people, and they love him back.

Cheerful, chic and charming. 

In the beginning, I found him boring, then he suddenly became really attractive and cute.

I wrongly judged him by his apparent manners, but he’s very open, very cool.

An essential of a happy life: free of the wrong kind of cares.

He keeps everything in its priority.  I’ve learned from him that most things aren’t worth worrying about.  Don’t waste time.  Vent but don’t linger.

He has served as our money-raising spark plug. 

Ken makes an everyday task into a performance art.

A two-seater convertible would seem perfectly practical to him.

He always lands on his feet.

Ace at badminton.  Just try to beat him.

A very hard worker at volunteer activities, and a sense of duty.

Ken never eats.  He breakfasts, he lunches, he dines, but he never just “eats”.

He is as true as steel.  A real trooper.

When throwing a party, he knows how to put out quite a spread... sometimes after the party, too!  lol

Good head is better than a hundred strong arms (wink).

He can enter a room and without saying a word let it be known that he’s in charge.

Delights in classic movies.

Infectious laugh.  Amazing vocabulary!  Twinkling eyes.  Personality like a magnet. 

He has actually lived out some of his fantasies.

Industry is the parent of fortune.

There is more here than doth at first appear!

His patience will achieve more than others’ force.

Ken doesn’t procrastinate, so when you talk about getting together and doing something, but no one steps up to get it going, Ken gets everybody enthusiastic and excited about it, pulls everyone together, and we always have a blast! 

At parties, he gains energy as things progress.  And he’ll be fine the next day!

Aside from his outdated chivalry, he’s ideal!

Oh, you can tell when he likes someone!  He creates time for them, includes them, supports them, shares, and you can just feel his affection radiating for them.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Whether at the Met, white-water rafting, or deglazing a skillet, Ken is perpetually curious about learning more of life.

A whiz at making hard-to-get reservations.  I’d love to know the people he knows.

It’s so cool watching him flirt; it’s all eye contact, face expression and quick little touches.

He sees the big picture without losing sight of the smaller details.

His clothes look becoming on him.  If I were on him, I would be cumming, too.  Muahhaha!

One of our star employees.  Smooth and sophisticated.

A happy heart possesses a kingdom.

How can you not enjoy being in Ken’s home, with all the candles, music, crystal stemware, and comfy pillows!  And of course, his charm.  Relentless.

A great supporter of our institution.  God bless him.

Enjoys correspondence, always with a swift reply.

Appreciates things that are hand-made.
An enigma: a polite, well-brought up fellow who achieves power without deviousness.

When cooking, he believes in the supreme importance of fresh ingredients.

Him and his stupid logic (which I have none of), but its ok ‘cuz he still understands me.

He’s always okay for a road trip and seeing where it takes us.  

Has a flair for event-planning and memorizes things quickly.

His an “open door” policy at work is an inspiration. 

Our most popular president.  Very influential and makes it a snap to raise money.

Thy modesty’s a candle to thy merit.

Ken’s motto: "Moderation in all things.  Originality always."

A valuable asset on our many committees.

Loves to participate, as well as observe.

This gentleman can be ranked among the “outstanding” in our history.

His curiosity is absolutely, positively feline.

Deplores superficiality. 

Endowed with a commanding voice and an “executive” presence.

He accomplishes more in a few hours than most people do in a day!

Brown hair with a shiny wave, with good looks to match.  Hard to forget.

Oh, Ken, how you blush!

One of the best campus tour guides in our history.

One of our preferred customers.  Always a pleasure to see—if only in passing to say Hi.

Efficient editor of our newsletter.  Noted for the impressively cool outfits he wears.

He is absolutely precious!  I simply have to kiss him.

Don’t mistake his composure for indifference or disinterest. 

He’s very good at public speaking and can do it without preparation—purely off-the-cuff.

Ken has a unique voice that is recognizable on the phone.  He never says who he is—just begins with “Hi” “or “Good Afternoon”, and I always know it’s him.

His way of making sure “the show goes on” reveals many qualities of true leadership.

Its incredible being with him: he lasts longer than most other guys I know.

This guy has the ability to meet a person for just a few minutes and make a friend.

He is so impregnated with a natural majesty that it appears even in his most insignificant gestures and movements, without arrogance but with simple grace.

A courtesy always dignified and suited to the age, rank, and intimacy of each individual, and—for the feminine—an air of natural gallantry.

Has somewhat lofty goals, which may cause conflict between him and comrades.

It would be exceptionally hard to replace him.

Will do extremely well in a meritocracy.  

You can tell if you’ve offended him, it’s like a line was crossed, and while he doesn’t roar, the claws come out.  He may sulk or ignore the offender—which is like being in a shadow—until apologized to.  Despite this, he won’t let a day end on a bad note.

His competitors don’t like his self-assurance or his "sometimes" severity towards others’ opinions.

Ken has a sixth sense with which he can detect when he’s being watched, often the hallmark of “an intuitive”.  In a crowded room, he can turn his head and immediately lock eyes with the person staring at him.  Incidentally, he said that if he concentrated his stare at somebody while they didn’t know it, they’d get restless and look around.

Pet peeve: drivers who can’t.

When presenting ideas, he’s verbally revving up and gearing down.  Sometimes, when he is making a side note, he’ll rev up even further—as if to put in his own verbal parentheses!

In a world of plastic smiles equating to ordinariness, Ken’s smile of love, hope, care and compassion is utterly perfect. 

If I see his name next to an assignment, I don’t have to worry about it getting done.

He livens things up and has an intriguing sense of decadence about him.

In hectic situations, he remains as “calm as the night”.

Well-liked and well-informed. 

He’s done more than anyone to revive my creative spirit.

Likes life and life likes him.

Most likely to succeed.

I had the most amazing breakfast with Ken!  I woke up, and he was preparing two bowls of Maple Pecan cereal (a nutritious organic brand with no added chemicals), almond milk and locally-made honey drizzled on top.  He cut slices of a brioche loaf and spread plum preserves on them.  He cut up peaches and mixed them into bowls of goat yogurt.  Ya gotta love all the different foods he uses!  This creative and delicious breakfast was enjoyed on his patio with a fresh breeze blowing his wind chimes… and his laughter.  It made my whole day wonderful!

He has learned at a young age how to live, how to be a part of life, and not to let it pass him by. 

Ken has an unquestionable ascendancy over those around him.  Even though he’s friendly and familiar, he gets respect from others.  At work, all the other people called each other “You” (“You, get this”, or “Hey, you”).  No one ever says “you” to Ken. 

  

He’s the best friend I have.  He covers for me, can keep a secret, offers sound advice, listens patiently when I tell him how I’ve messed up, and offers help—shielding me from more blows until I’ve regained my footing.

Ken’s memo said: “It is unfortunate that there are people without principles or virtues, those who take the path of least resistance as an easy way out, those who hide from and murmur about problems instead of addressing them, those who refuse to change because it is inconvenient, those who cater to the lowest common denominator, those who fail to think for themselves, and those who do not appreciate candor because they feel that they are too good for it.”

There’s one person I know who’s never weighed down by his possessions.  Ken travels light and doesn’t complicate his life.  

Ken was a Boy Scout and so it seems fitting to quote the founder of the BSA, Sir Robert Baden-Powell, “Try to leave the world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best.” 

From an e-mail by Ken: “I look forward to the change of the seasons because I have a desire to share in something alive and changing, and I apply that desire to everything in life.  The warm colors, the fragrant air, and the first frost in the morning are all jewels.”

Why Ken travels: “So much of any culture—its music, literature, precious art—is the topic of chance, of situation and accident.  Culture is fragile, and that quality by which it might never have happened is part of its magic... part of why we, its lovers, feel ourselves illuminated and renewed by its radiance.”

Ken once said, "Guilt is idiotic.  I’ve always found guilt to be something that has been taught to people by a terrible culture of puritans, where you are supposed to atone for some initial sin.  It's senseless."

I was emailing him about "not really feeling it" with my project.  He replied, "True, when you're not feeling it, it means the Energy is pushing you in new directions--maybe for some refreshment or to new discoveries.  If you try to resist it and persist, it just feels stagnant."  It's really what I needed to hear!

  

From a motivational speech Kenneth wrote: “I believe our thoughts create our reality, and that thoughts and feelings establish the experiences we face.  I am always growing.  Every day is a change and a new beginning, and I am amazed to meet another life, another soul to connect with.  It is more powerful than any material or ego-bound existence.  Change is a necessary fundamental of human life.  I believe in the power of Variety and the importance of Truth.  I tend to gravitate to richness in life: the boring or bland are not for me.  I am evolving.  I am listening… taking in every word.  Learning.  Feeling. Loving.  Being.  I'm not shallow; in fact, I am very deep.  I love to look great, smell great, feel great and stand out.  I believe in Karma and that it really does come back around.  I love to see confidence: it’s sexy, smart, and powerful.  I’ll be your friend to seek a genuine companionship, but not to raise the number of friends on my list.  Through my senses of spontaneity and creativity, I can be an obstruction of complacent “day-to-day”.  Life passes too quickly to settle for less, and as they say, it is too short not to go first class.  Give the world the best you have, and the best will come back to you!”

Words that I associate with Ken: Life, Passion, Real, Motion, Love, Lucky, Harmony, Creative, Sing, Smart, Old Soul, Potency, Energy!