I’m always filled with joy and delight when someone comes up and tells me how much of a positive impact I had on them because of something I did, said or how I treated them in the past. Sometimes before I even knew who they were and now are a close friend. I suppose it’s a bit egotistical to say that, but it’s the truth.

For me, it’s a testament and reassurance that I’m on the right path with at least some of the choices I’m making and (more importantly) those choices are positively effecting other people in the world.

Now that most of our children are adults, we will run into their childhood friends every once in while. I’ll have a 6’2″ man walk up to me and say, “Hello Mr. Gohrick.” As I stand in his shadow and look up at him, it takes me a minute or two to realize this young strapping man was running around in my backyard with my son as a 4th grader not so long ago. As he begins to catch me up on his current activities, he makes sure to tell me how grateful he is to have known us, spent time at our house and how much fun he would have because we were such great parents and so great to be around. That brings tears to my eyes to hear that.

Sometimes it’s just nice to know that your actions, behaviors and choices have made a difference in the world. Even if it’s just for one person.

That’s enough for me.