Influence by Stan Beatty

I wrote the list and typed the names. I looked and searched and wrote some stories.  Who or what was the main influence on my life?  Sort of like, who am I or where did I come from?  Why am I the person I turned out to be.  I wondered if  Shakespeare came up with his famous "to be or not to be" question while pondering this same issue?

Was it my mother, my father or maybe both?  The school I went to or the teachers that taught me?  Are they responsible?  The friends I grew up with?  The religion I was taught?  Or maybe it was the place I grew up. The valley, the lake, the mountain?  Was it one or was it all?  Am I a composite of all of the above, or is there something else to consider.?

With who, whom or what do I give the credit or with who, whom or what do I place the blame?

As I thought about my life, it became obvious to me that I am a product of all.  Each and every aspect of my life has served to shape me.

But there is one underlying current that runs through all the influences that have given me my personality.  That one thing is "luck".  That's right, good old lady luck.  Why do I say luck?  Because I truly believe in the adage "but for the grace of God, There go I".

I was lucky to have the parents I did.  I grew up in a loving home, no beatings or child abuse.  No hunger or lack of food. 
I was lucky to grow up in America.  I was not born in a place where people are killed just because of religion or politics.
I was lucky to get an education, to have decent friends, to be healthy and to be able to work

There is no question that good old lady luck played a major roll in shaping who I am and what I am.
Thank you God for planting my butt exactly where you did.