I recently saw a video of Garth Brooks spotting a woman holding a sign in the audience that read, “Chemo this morning. Garth tonight. Enjoying the dance.”  What he does next is extremely touching. You can watch the video here. He made a huge impact on this woman, but I think her impact on him and the rest of the audience may have been even bigger.

It’s unfortunate that often the nicest things people say about others is at their funerals where they talk about the kind of people they were and the impact they had. Why do we so often fail to tell people when they are right in front of us?

Here’s a challenge for you that will make you feel great and really make a difference to others. Think of the top ten people who have impacted your life in a positive way, and tell them how they have impacted you either in a letter, email, phone call or in person. Besides immediate family members, it can be someone who helped you during a difficult time, offered support or words of encouragement, or someone who was a role model by showing you what was possible.

Next, do this for yourself. People may not tell you the influence you had on them. So think of the top ten people that you believe you have had a positive impact on, and write or type out what you did that you think made a difference to them. Keep this document or journal entry for yourself. Whenever you doubt yourself or wonder if you are living your life on purpose, read what you have written. You don’t have to be a famous entertainer, motivational speaker, or even in a helping profession to have a positive effect on others. We all impact others and others impact us in small ways each day that make up a lifetime of lessons and experiences, which is the ultimate journey.

 “Sometimes people come into your life for a moment, a day or a lifetime. It matters not the time they spent with you but how they impacted your life in that time.” – Unknown