You Matter

You Matter

I saw a video recently and actually shared it on my Facebook page about a young boy that was judged by his outward appearance and his general attitude towards school. He came into his 5th grade teacher’s class and she saved looking through his records for last. The teacher found that his mother had passed away of cancer a few years back and his father had withdrawn and wasn’t involved in his life much.


When you find out the background story, you can’t help but feel for the young boy - but without knowing that back story he was judged as a grungy kid with a bad attitude. This teacher took a special interest in making sure that she paid him the attention that he lacked otherwise in his life. To make sure that he knew she believed in him. To show him how much she cared.

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This boy then turned around and flew through school getting good grades and went on to be a medical doctor. He reached out to his teacher, letting her know how much she affected his life every few years. This one woman he remembered throughout his school years, into adulthood and actually asked her to sit in his mother’s spot at his wedding.


This story stands as a reminder to not judge people by the cover without knowing the back story. We may never know what is going on in the background for others, but I do know that we can have a major effect on others just by believing in them. Actually connecting with and encouraging another person can have such a tremendous ripple effect that you may not see for years or even ever.


However, I know that the people that have had the biggest impact on me have encouraged me and told me how much they believed in me, even at times when I struggle to believe in myself. This, in my book, is part of living your legacy life. People will forget what you say your going to do or what you wish you could do, but they won’t forget how you made them feel. 


They won’t forget that when they couldn’t believe in themselves that there was someone else out there that did. It doesn’t take a huge amount of time to let another person know when they are struggling that they are not alone. Even if it’s just a simple comment to let someone else know that you noticed them and that they matter can brighten someone’s day. It can be the last thing they think about before they go off to sleep at night - that someone made them feel like they mattered.


If more people believed in each other - what a world it would be.


If you haven’t heard it yet today, You matter. You are an incredibly strong warrior. You are beautiful and smart. You are loved and I believe in you.


xo Renea