Challenge Accepted

The title is a little homage to How I Met Your Mother. If you don't get it, that's ok. It just means I watch way to much of that show.

I have this friend that has always challenged me to be a better person. Not in an annoying way. And not even in a way that I think she realizes she is doing it. She just always points out the right (and sometimes wrong) things in my life and always challenges me to be a better person without even realizing she is doing it. What a genius! 

I don't live by this friend anymore. In fact, I haven't for years. But, I get to see her about once or twice a year and every time that happens, I walk away feeling refreshed. She is a true friend. It doesn't feel awkward that we never actually talk except when we see each other. It doesn't even matter that we have lived apart for way more of our friendship than we lived by each other. She is a great friend to me. 

But back to my point.

We were having breakfast last week and I was talking about people who have impacted my life and how I would like to impact people's lives as well. She pointed out that most of the people who have impacted my life didn't do any big, grand gestures. They were just themselves and loved me. She also pointed out that I probably have already impacted people's lives for the better (who knows if this is true, but I would like to hope it is). All this talk inspired me...

For 2012 I would like to impact someone each month. I haven't quite decided how it is going to work. I don't know if it will be a different person each month or if it will be the same couple of people throughout the year. All I know is I want to make a difference in people's lives. I want to be a blessing. I want to be an encourager. So every month, I will pick a person and figure out how to bless and encourage them. It could be thru cupcakes (that hopefully turn out edible), a starbucks card, a homemade scarf and the list goes on. Anything to make them feel loved.

So there you have it. My challenge of 2012. It may not seem huge, but it really is the little things in life that matter.