“Influence Me”

“With great power comes great responsibility”

– Ben Parker

Before I get into the article I just wanted to say: I love quotes! There is something about them that makes me happy. Great quotes make my brain run at 1000 mph, which probably doesn’t sound like a good thing but I love to reflect. When you read a great quote that sums up everything you are feeling in that moment, it is just wow. A well put together pairing of words can be a very formidable thing.

The above quote is from Spider Man (in case you were wondering). It recently has come to be one of my favorites because all I have been seeing lately are people in powerful positions. Positions where you can really make a huge difference. It is up to whoever wields the power whether the difference they make is good or bad.

A few people that inspired this post:

• The Pope came to America. I am not Catholic and never will be (not from lack of my Mother trying) but I was captivated by him. He really is the people’s Pope. He is also completely adorable.
• Viola Davis’ commanding Emmy acceptance speech. Not going to lie, it made me teary eyed.
• Presidential Candidates have also been all over the news. I attribute this to the “Donald Trump” affect because no one usually pays attention this early in the election process.

You can argue who, in the above list, has the most power but you can not argue they don’t have any power. Each one of them has an immense amount of power stemming from the ability to influence large groups of people.

Influence is power.

TIME magazine comes out with an article every year listing the most influential people in the world, not most powerful. Because these people are able to make you do things, buy things, say things, purely by setting an example. They do not have to order you or force you to do it, you end up doing it because you want to.

With this power, really does come great responsibility. I am happy that most people in the spotlight are using their powers for good. If not for good, for at least the betterment of themselves. Or for a vision they wish to realize, and you can’t knock them for that.

I want to say, each and every one of us has the same responsibility. Whether you realize it or not, you influence those around you. From your friends, to your siblings, to strangers on the street, to your blog followers, you are influencing someone. Even if it is only one person, that is still power you hold.

Your actions are your responsibility. You at this moment can be influencing someone to act a certain way. What example do you want to set? Do you not want to be the person who inspires, supports, and instills good values? Or someone who breeds hate, negativity, and judgement?

Influence is a great power, please use it responsibly.

“Free Your Mind”

When I was younger, I was what I would like to call a “wild child”. With an older brother and mostly older male cousins, I was super active. The sky was the limit because of the crazy imagination I had.

My heart skipped a beat every time I heard my doorbell ring, knowing it was my neighbor telling me to come play. We would be sorcerers of the elements one day and street racers, riding our bikes down huge hills another.

Then I “grew up”. I stopped experiencing the thrill and the joy of doing things for the thrill and joy of doing them. I stopped playing like a kid and stepped away from exercising my imagination, because I thought it was dumb (stopping, ended up being the dumb thing).

After a certain age you start to do things to meet an end.

We go to work to make money. We eat healthy to lose weight. We go to college to get that job. We do things to fit in.

This somehow turned me into a person who started to fear the things that used to give me joy. I would be apprehensive about going to an event or doing something adventurous. I started focusing solely on all of the things that could go wrong and all of the reasons why I didn’t want to go.

I should have been focusing on the excitement and honing my sense of adventure. I am going to fully blame society on this one. Society made me insecure about the decision I was making, when no F’s should have been given.

Luckily, while in Peru, I was able to visit their vast desert terrain. I had never been to one before; the views blew me away.

My family and I flew down the desert dunes three stories high on a dune buggy. Then glided down them on rickety boards.

For a few hours, I remembered what it was like to be a kid again. I had no worries, nor a care in the world. I relished the great adrenaline high rushing through my body.

When you let yourself go and free your mind, you feel like the possibilities are endless. There is finally a small bit of inner peace. The feeling that everything is going to be okay builds in your mind. You also get this weird sense that, you can conquer anything.

The more and more new things I experience and the more adventures I go on, the more I start to feel these thing.

There is nothing more valuable than feeling at peace.

Go out there and free your mind. Experience new things and try some adventures. Your inner child will thank you.