“Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, Five hundred twenty five thousand moments so dear. Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, How do you measure, measure a year. In daylight, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee, In inches, in miles, in laughter in strife, In Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, How do you measure a year in the life”…Seasons of Love, from Rent.
Tic toc, all we have is time, how do we spend it? I learned the news that I had cancer one week before leaving for training. The last thing I wanted to do was leave my family and friends for three weeks and use those minutes with people I didn’t know. I listened to this song on my way there and then again on my way back and I discovered that my attitude had changed. On my way, I thought about the brevity of life and truly the limited time we have and wondered why I was leaving my family during such a critical time in my health. On my way back, I thought about the new friends I had made and how those moments I spent on the new relationships impacted my life. At the end of training we were given evaluations individually. What my trainer told me was that in the beginning he couldn’t figure me out because I was so quiet, but in the end he said it turns out I was a quiet storm affecting one person at a time. This made me cry. Since cancer, my life mission has been to make a positive impact one person at a time and his statement was validation that I was doing something right.
You’ve heard me say this before but I will say it again and again. We impact each person that we meet whether positive or negative, people walk away from each encounter feeling something about you. Sometimes, it’s just a few minutes and in this case for me, it was three weeks. What type of impact do you want people to feel after you walk away? I choose to make it a positive one. Yes, three weeks was a long time, but the moments I spent with certain people were not a waste of those precious 525,600 minutes. People are not a waste of time. So thank you to Michelle, Jennifer, Ashley(TX), Ashely(FL), Lauren, and of course, Fernando. You have all impacted my life.
For my new friends I wear 2 colors, Chantecaille- Angel Skin , a soft pinkish nude, because you were all my angels during training; and Bobbi Brown -Burnt Red because it’s my reminder to live boldly (and because Fernando said he loves red lipstick). Thank you for the shared tears and all the laughter.
Anna's Lipstick Journey 
You have a fabulous way of seeing what so many miss–the simple, profound truth of what matters. I don’t know if that was cancer’s gift to you or if you’ve always been that way, but it is wonderful. You are wonderful.
Thank you Beth! I think my glass has always been half full vs half empty, but cancer definitely gave me even broader eyes!
Anna my Anna, how perfectly done!
Minutes and hours and days and years, all making an impact on someone you encounter. It’s so true, whether you mean to impact them or not, you will.
It’s a great choice to make the impact a positive experience. I share that goal with you and I can tell you that you have most definitely impacted mine in a positive and loving way.
♥ your blogs and ♥ you.
Thank you for your kind words Jo, it’ hard to make a positive impact when the receiver is not so nice but who cares, knowing there’s a story behind the scowl helps! You’re awesome!
I’m definitely sharing this! This is something a lot of us know, but need to be reminded of all the same. When I was much younger, I was so quiet and introverted and I felt like I contributed nothing to the lives of others. It took a long way to overcome that and I still don’t feel I’ve overcome it entirely or have offered as much as I could.
Thank you and yes, feel free to share! I too was the quiet introverted one (isn’t that true of most ‘creatives’…lots of conversations in our head), it’s great now to push the boundaries with people. Too many negative people out there but I find if we can positively impact just one, it’s a start!
This was such a profound post…and this really struck a chord with me: “You’ve heard me say this before but I will say it again and again. We impact each person that we meet whether positive or negative, people walk away from each encounter feeling something about you.” Thanks so much for sharing this post!
Cheers!
Thanks Jenn!
So true what you said ‘We impact each person that we meet whether positive or negative, people walk away from each encounter feeling something about you. ‘, very true!
Thanks Claudia, I know it’s true for me!
Your positive attitude never ceases to amaze me. You are such an inspiration to all of us who face rough times in life.
Thank you Kat! Life is always a challenge, best to stay positive!
A very touching piece, Anna. Gentle and full of wisdom.
Thank you for your kind words Gill!
Loved this post. What a wonderful attitude, looking to make a positive impact, rather than a negative one. I bet those colors look great on you. 🙂
Thanks Beverly! Yes, I’d rather leave a positive legacy! I also truly love every lipstick I post too!
We are all connected in the circle of life. What an awesome attitude you have to life. and I love the lipstick bits.
Thank you Suzy!
ok……my life mission has been to make a positive impact one person at a time and his statement was validation that I was doing something right.
im crying.
need to share….blow my nose first…………..yup……..attitude…you’re a BE attitude MUAH
Thanks Brenda! You’re the best!