Do you have a person or people in your life that you draw inspiration from? Ones that leave their fingerprint on your very existence? I bet you do, even if you haven’t put a lot of thought into it. The obvious starting point for most of you would be your parents. I know my parents, besides contributing to the totality of my DNA and physiological dispositions, were the people who inspired me the most. But what about the others?

While there have been many in my life who have influenced the man I choose to be today, there are a few that hold a special place in the halls of the Museum of Rob. One such man was my Uncle Jim. The eldest of my mother’s siblings, it seemed like there was nothing Jim wasn’t able to do…and do it well at that. I know that no man is perfect, but as a child, I sure believed that he was (along with my father).

He had an incredible breadth of knowledge about the world. This was undoubtedly a result of his innate curiosity and dedication to being a life long learner. A Korean War veteran, a police officer, a world traveler, an accountant, a master cabinet maker, a writer…he could find common ground and carry on a respectable conversation with just about anyone he ever met. He was funny, interesting and he was a masterful storyteller. There are few people that I’ve met that I would describe as wise. He was wise.

My Uncle Jim continues to be an influence in my personal curation (except that you don’t want me doing your taxes or being anywhere near a circular saw), though he’s been gone for many years. I don’t believe I ever told him how much I looked up to him. I regret that today. If only I possessed the wisdom to know that I should have while I could still have a conversation with him.

I have a takeaway for you. Who are your others and if they’re still alive, have you told them how important they have been in your life? I encourage you to leave a comment about your others and challenge you to make sure they understand the influence they’ve had on you!