Jedi mind tricks

I do not find myself to be an incredibly influential person. On the average day, I probably come into contact with, oh, 34-102 people, depending on my day's activities. If I'm at work, I will greet and serve caffeine-starved customers. If I'm going to class, I will participate with the other students and ask questions of my teachers. I'll see people working at front desks of dorms, behind counters in the dining center, perhaps I'll say hi to someone on my way from here to there.

Random thoughts that come to mind bing around cyberspace, via the various social networks of our time, and perhaps a certain amount of fellow socialites will read them, maybe even agree. Maybe I'll make eye contact with the person next to me at a stoplight, maybe I'll get pulled over and talk to a not-so-friendly lady cop. I'll see a friend in the grocery store, or recognize the guy at starbucks taking my order too often because I just can't help myself.

These relationships range heavily from momentary glances at mere acquaintances, to hours spent on-end with the ones closest to me, having conversations that are general earned through time and love. The bonds between humans spring up everywhere, spider webbing into a mess of hello's, may I help yous, stop its, see yous, nice day isn't its, bye byes, hahas, and I love yous. Yet I don't find my personal self to be incredibly influential. Nobody reads about my life in magazines, names libraries after me, or thinks, "by-golly. good thing that Lindsey was around to save the day!"But it still matters. I still talk to 34-102 people a day. The way I choose to present myself to those around me can affect their mood, their attitude, their outlook on their own day. Kindness is contagious. And so are curses, angry gestures, and rude remarks.

I wake up on the average morning at about a 6 on a scale of one to a great mood. Generally, I believe that each day has the potential to be a really good day, but I let myself rely on others to propel me towards 10 or let me sink to one. I have this terrible knack for soaking up what other people are feeling around me, allowing their disheartenment, anger, and stress leak into my thoughts. Some days I feel like an air-hockey puck... just cruisin along in my straight little line, until someone gently taps me and I go spinning off into some other direction.

I have been learning lately to control this. I have began to understand that I cannot let others dominate the way I feel, that I have to be confident enough and strong enough to stay centered in myself. To not find my joy based on my circumstances. As I have been reaching this realization, my eyes have also been opened to the way I affect others. I have become increasingly aware of my power... not my social prowess or my jedi-mind tricks... but rather the way my smiles can turn someone else's day towards 10.

It's so easy to run around in a fog so concentrated on self, mentally ticking off lists of tasks thinking about nothing but the end goal. It is important to look around.