Last night, I hung out with a former classmate who is moving to Seattle. The week before, I saw him at another goodbye party for another friend who is also leaving. It was the 5th or 6th goodbye this month. The past two years have been amazing. I’ve met some incredible people, and many are scattering all over the globe. Some are as far as places like Brazil, Japan, India, Singapore, and China. For many, I’ll probably never see them again in my life. For the rest, it would be an absolute pleasure to run into them 1 or 2 more times in my lifetime, if I’m lucky. Regardless, some of them I’ll never forget.

In the ongoing story that is being written called life, you’re going to run into people who will have a profound impact on yours, and you on theirs. Even if its just a flash, don’t forget them, because just like that they’ll be gone. I’ll never forget my best childhood friend. In that moment, he was my bestest bud. We ended on bad terms in his eyes, but I’ll never forget him for what he meant to me growing up.  I’ll never forget my first kiss, or the first time I got beat up, but I’ve long since forgotten my fourth kiss and the 26th time I got beat up. The people of impact are usually around in times when you were experiencing something for the first time, hence why you’ll probably have such fond memories of people you’ll encounter while travelling.

I’ll never forget the first time I was ready to call it quits in school because I felt I didn’t have the ability to continue, and my college buddy made me stay. We’ve lost touch, and I’ve never told him that he positively changed the direction of my life for good. I’ll never forget my first love for believing in me when nobody else did. Nobody, including myself. We didn’t work out, but what I learned from her has had profound impacts on who I am, where I am going, and a belief that maybe, just maybe, I can reach my true potential. That type of impact can never be repaid.

I was at a good friend’s wedding earlier this month. He surprised me when during his speech he mentioned that there was one person in particular he would like to thank above everybody else because if it wasn’t for him, he wouldn’t have met his wife. Then he said my name. It was very touching. It touches me still. I don’t think I’ve ever been publicly thanked by anybody before. Earlier this week, I got a text message at 2:30 am from another good friend telling me that he just proposed to his girlfriend and she said yes. They both credit me for introducing them. For me, it was a simple introduction. But for them, it was life changing. Touching. And I’ll never forget it. For those that aren’t in your life any more, consider yourself lucky if you were able to show your appreciation. For those that are around still, it’s never too late.