Today is Day 5 of the Blog Challenge, and it’s all about the idea of paying it forward.
Whether it’s a family member, a teacher, or even someone we’ve never met, most people have had at least one person who influenced their lives in a positive manner. Those who influence others do so through their words, but more so, through their actions.
One of the greatest influencers in my life was my grandfather. Growing up, my brother and I spent a lot of time visiting my grandparents. Almost every time we visited, Grandpa took us to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, the Denver Zoo, and to a nearby mall to get giant cookies and Orange Julius as a special treat. He took us to historical monuments and car trips through the mountains. He even came to school with me one time so I could have him as my Show-And-Tell item for the day.
But Grandpa was more than just a free ticket to full days of fun and adventure. So much more. He was super smart, but more importantly, he was curious. He constantly read and watched documentaries. He studied the Bible, even though he’d read every word countless times in his life. And as a radio engineer, he loved all things electronic. Today’s technology would blow him away.
From an early age, my grandpa tried to make a difference in other people’s lives. He grew up in the Depression in a small town in Kansas. His family was fortunate in that his father always had a job thanks to his skills as an electrician. In addition to their background in electronics, the family also loved music. Many of the children played instruments. As a way to entertain those in their small town, my grandpa built an amplifier, and he and his siblings played music on the main street of town while people went about their business in town. He used his interests to provide value to others.
One of the biggest lessons I learned from Grandpa was to never stop learning. His family didn’t have much, but he worked hard to put himself through college and build a career as a radio engineer. But his learning didn’t stop with electronics. He was interested in pretty much everything, from music and art to trains to western history. While my brother and I enjoyed the fun day at the museum, Grandpa was teaching us to appreciate knowledge and creativity.
Today, my love of learning and creativity led me into teaching and writing. Although I currently work in a business setting, I look for opportunities to continue to develop not only my writing skills, but like my grandpa, I also read and study all things that interest me. Thankfully, with today’s technology, finding resources on all subjects is at my fingertips. That’s how I found some of the figures who’ve influenced me in pursuing my creative goals.
Among the first people I came across who influenced my writing goals were Michael Hyatt, Jon Acuff, and Jeff Goins. All best-selling authors in their own right, and all about encouraging people to live their passions. Because of their influence, I am learning that you can appreciate your current situation and still strive for me. You can always keep learning. And you can always help other
As a way of Paying It Forward, I am giving away a book bundle with the latest books from these three writers:
Living Forward – Michael Hyatt with Daniel Harkavy
Do Over – Jon Acuff
The Art of Work – Jeff Goins
***All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below answering this question:
How has influenced you in your life, and how can you Pay It Forward to honor his/her influence on you?
***For a second chance at winning, follow me on Twitter (@MelanieG_Writer) and/or on Facebook. In the comments, let me know which one you followed so I can keep track of the entries.
***Contest closes Friday, March 25 at 11:59 central time.
Good luck!
Reignite your creativity!
Subscribe to get new content, monthly newsletter, and important updates. You'll also receive a free download - "30 Days of Creative Inspiration."
Congratulations to Gilana Telles! Your name was drawn as the winner of the book bundle giveaway! Please email me at melanie.glinsmann@gmail.com with your contact information, and I will get the books sent your way soon.
Thank you again for stopping by. I look forward to interacting with you in the future.
Thank you Melanie, again, such a blessing! I appreciate this, and reading everyone’s testimonies and input on such an important topic! Looking forward to speaking with you again down the road 🙂
Jon Acuff and Jeff Goins are directly responsible for me starting a blog, which turned into a book. It’s taken me 3 years to write this book, which will be published this July. I’ve learned so much along the way from their influence and from the communities that they have created.
Thanks for stopping over! IT’s been great to connect with you through the Acuff and Goins groups. They’ve definitely been a big help in getting not only my blog, but also my writing in general, back on track. It’s great to have access to people like them through their platforms. I look forward to reading your book. Sounds like you’ve had quite the road to get to where you are today.
This is an amazing post and I am so glad I can relate. My father, a Vietnam War Vet, devoted his time and effort to making sure my brothers, mom, and I were alright. He’s an advocate of water drinking, nature, and all things education. My childhood was filled with bike rides, walking trails in the forest, riding around the block, and watching him jog. Now, I’m a mother to my 4 year old son, who also gets to grow along side my dad, his grandfather. I can imagine him writing a post like this some day God willing. One of the best parts, I naturally do all of the things my parents did with me with my own son, and I realize how God has been graceful and so giving, by providing me with such a joyful childhood.
-All the best,
Gilana Telles
Also, Thank you for doing this fellow hustler!
Hello Gilana! Thank you for your kind words. I appreciate your support. Your dad sounds like a pretty amazing man. It’s so hard to see people I know who have grown up without that kind of a father figure (or grandfather, uncle etc…). That’s such an important relationship. It’s great that your son can also experience that now. I’m sure he’ll have lots of wonderful memories of his grandfather, just as I do of mine.
Your name is on the list to win the book bundle!
Your grandpa sounds a lot like my dad! He was for sure, the biggest influence on my life. I think of his example often as I try to care for my family with patience and wisdom.
Hi Debbie! Thanks for stopping by. It’s so great to hear these stories of how people are now influencing the next generation as well. The values and lessons we learn from parents/grandparents are wonderful examples to pass on to our children, or my case, my two awesome nieces. Unfortunately, he passed away before they could know him, but my brother is a lot my our grandfather, so those lessons are certainly being passed on to my nieces.
You are officially entered for the contest! Have a great rest of the week.
My grandfather was a huge influence in my life as well. He always encouraged me to never give up and in the last few years of his life, his motto was that it’s never too late to begin again.
I hope that I am that encouragement to my children and my friends. When my friends have problems in life, I try to remind them that if they don’t like the direction they are headed, it’s not too late to stop what they’re doing, change directions and begin again.
It’s amazing how much influence a grandparent can have on a child. I love that idea of it never being too late to start over. ANd I know you do a lot for your kids to show them how much you care about them, but also providing them with an interest in a lot of things and giving them a sense of purpose.
You are entered for the book giveaway! Thanks for checking in!