My Cup Runneth Over, Part I

I had a discussion with someone today about the reasons we meet certain people during our lifetime.  Sometimes we take for granted how important certain people can be to our lives and who we are.  I know I would not be who I am today without several different people.  Some of them are family, some are really good friends, and some of them I may have known for a brief time but just learned something from them.  What can be really frustrating is, I often don't realize how much someone has affected me until they are no longer a part of my life.  I wish I could tell them how they helped mold me.  So I've decided to every once in a while dedicate my blog to a couple of them.  They may never read it, but I still want people to know how awesome they are.

During college I had several good friends from school, but one of the people that really taught me something was a guy i met online.  At most times during our friendship, we didn't even live in the same town.  Charlie is from oklahoma and moved to texas around the same time I did.  He is one of the most unique and awesome individuals I've ever met.  He is one of a kind, and has no interest in being anyone but himself.  I think he made me realize how important it is to except yourself as you are and once you can love yourself, others will follow.  He was always there with concern when I was having a bad day, and a good joke to cheer me up.  Charlie and his now wife Dana even asked me to be in their wedding, which I gladly excepted.  That was actually one of the last times I saw them in person, which I think is sad.  But sometimes your journeys take you into different directions.

When I moved to Texas it took me a while I really find my place. One of the first stops was the Catholic Student Center.  I met a woman there that ended up becoming a very powerful friend.  I knew from the moment I met Amy that she was a wonderful person and a great Christian.  But it wasn't until she invited me to wake up at like four am on a Wednesday morning and drive to Austin to feed the less fortunate.  My first thought of course was, people are up at 4am?  Seriously?  But she was so enthused about it I decided to tag along.  It was such a great experience.  People caring about other people.  Seeing how much they appreciated the little thing we were doing.  Amy taught me the importance of not being selfish and giving what you can.  She taught me that when you give you get so much back.  We'd return from Austin before our classes started and I'd have to best days after wards.  It just put me in such a good mood.