the most influential person in your life

[zzxxee]

who has been the most influential person in your life and why?

[justmetoo]

My dear Dad.....he gave me his time , his love, his endless patiance..and even his money, when he had it......love and miss you Dad...x

[Barmaid]

My ex boss - who is now one of my closest friends. Realised within days of us meeting that he would have an inordinate effect on my life. He saw something in me that no one else had seen and encouraged me to retrain (I was a secretary back then). He supported me emotionally and mentally, through 7 years of slog (and in fact, financially for 4 of those years to an extent) and every time I was ready to chuck in the towel he managed to do something or put me in a situation to relight the fire I had. More importantly, he taught me to have belief in myself.

I consider myself extremely lucky to have met him and know that he will always be a massive part of my life.

[zzxxee]

ahhhhhhhhh thats nice justmeto mine would have to be my nan who taught me to always be myself, and my imaginary childhood friend zippy who always gave me his sweets and taught me how to share

[justmetoo]

Barmaid, your are so lucky to have a friend like that...by the way thank you for the legal advice.........it was helpful...and it is a real case....

[cazzz1975]

the new ED .. (cough-cough)

[justmetoo]

lol......

[Barmaid]

I know that now justmetoo. I'll have another look later because I know you have raised some further points, but I need a few mins to think about it!!

pmsl cazz.

[wonkon-wonk]

my children !

i am a different person because of them !

[justmetoo]

Thank you so much for talking the time, I really appriciate it barmaid.....

[andy-hughes]

My dad, with whom I had a seriously difficult relationship.

He was a bombastic, opinionated cynical rude cheating alcoholic.

Everything he was with me, I have been the opposite with my children. I learned emotional independence from his attitude, and how to read people;s mood swings.

I hated him with an abiding passion, and shed no tears when I heard he was dead - having not seen him for over twenty years previously.

Not everyone's influence is benign, I am sad to say.

[monkeywiener]

my hand.

[monkeywiener]

Barmaid there is nothing quite like sleeping your way to the top :)
ONLY KIDDING

[Tizzi247]

My dad, who has been dead for nearly 13 years. I still miss him terribly, he always had good advice to give and if you didn't heed it, he never said "I told you so". He would do anything for me, but he never spoilt me. He was totally fair and understanding and there's not a day goes by without me thinking of him.

[CAJ1]

As sad as it is I don't think I've had anyone influential in my life. I've just done my own thing and learnt from my own mistakes

[theonlyone]

Has to be my Mum as my Dad died and
she had 6 children ..the youngest was
4 years old ...she went to work ..the one not
old enough to work looked after the little one ..
we had no benefits...just to work to live and
be proud ..my Mum is now 81 and still active ..

[Bbbananas]

Once again - my dad. So sorry andy-h you did not have that same loving experience that so many of us on here seem to have (had) with our fathers.

Got to say my children also. And my nanna. I am blessed.

[Drisgirl]

What an emotive powerful response Andy -all credit to you that you learned from his mistakes and didnt emulate him as so many do.

Bizarrely and sadly -its not until someone dies that you realise the impact they have had on your life - its called taking someone for granted ergo I try not to anymore- I still do of course as im only human but I am more aware of what I have and count my blessings.

[wonkon-wonk]

andys dad sounded just like mine ,which is why i never went to his funeral
you go to them to pay your respect don't you?