Touching me, touching you

(Apologies to Neil Diamond)
A week or so ago I came across an old friend from high school on Facebook.  I hadn't thought of her in years, but seeing her picture brought back a rush of memories.

It was the 1984-1985 school year.  Frankly, I was many years from becoming the outspoken, outgoing person I am today. But this person was one of the major catalysts that got me started down that road.  If you can imagine it, I was pretty much your stereotypical Asian guy that year in high school; just focused on my academics and just enough extra curricular activities to ensure I'd get into a good school.

But internally there was a lot going on.  Lots of loneliness and overall alienation from high school in general.  But also there was a very real fight between the person I was and the person I wanted to be. Fortunately I was befriended by this wonderful person and started hanging out.  She was a senior (!) which made it all that much better.  And I slowly began to recognize that not only did I deserve to have what I wanted, but it was up to me to go out and grab it.

I've been so lucky to have met people at critical junctures in my life that have propelled me onward and upward.

- My mom and dad of course, who taught me the value of working hard.
- This person I mentioned above.
- Friends from Chamber Singers/show choir who gave me a sense of belonging -- which is so critical in high school.  (As a side note, I'd like to thank the choreographer of show choir who kept dragging me from the second row to be front and center.  He kept doing that so much that eventually I cam to crave being in the spot light.)
- My buddies from college - lifelong friends who taught me that friendship is about support but also about calling you on your sh*t.
- My best friend Jason, who gave me the final push and self-confidence to grab the life I wanted.

And finally Geoff who is the culmination of all this.  Who I love so much.  I don't think I would have had the nerve to go after the relationship if it wasn't for all those people who gave me a much needed push in my past.

Last year when I turned 40, I was going to do a series of thank you notes to people who have touched my life in some way.  This list is me revving up to do that.

But all this led me to think about whether I've played a similar role for anyone.  I'm not sure I have, but I'd like to think I did.

Have you?