change somebody's life (for the better)

that I can truly say I have done this.

But when you walk a person to the otherside, a part of you goes with them.

because a 43 Thinger has become my friend. (Now, to work on that moraleowheelofortunemeter of his that seems stuuuuck.)

I may think about kindnesses and favour, but how to go about judging and deciding what is a positive change of life for someone, courtesy yours truly?

It does make me think of past experiences I would rather avoid: “Here is our newly adopted child; you know his life was wretched until he came to us.” I’m sure the kid is better off than he would likely be with the drunks and addicts he had the misfortune to be the progeny of- but there’s an implied smugness I want to avoid. The recipient of the good fortune shouldn’t have to feel indebted or grateful. Perhaps it means I can’t report on it at all.
Would I want to report that someone’s life had been changed for the better because they came to be my friend? I don’t think I can report that, either. The pleasure would also be mine.

My friends just got engaged recently and I was asked to be a bridesmaid in their upcoming wedding.

Two years ago, without the intentions of hooking two friends up or changing their lives for the better, I happened to do just that. My friend Nicole told me that sometimes she thinks that if it hadn’t been for me, they never would’ve ended up together which is too much credit on my part, but flattering nonetheless.

The real reward though is not on me for bettering their lives, but for my friends who’ve found the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with, and I couldn’t be happier for them.

This is more a principal or moral than a goal because changing peoples lived for the better must be a way of life – something you strive to do everyday. Like for example – healthy eating. I feel like I have done this before and would love to continue doing it.

Hauki told me that I changed her life for the better. I can assure you that she has also changed my life in many ways and surely for the better. I can barely wait to see what the future brings for us two. :)

than I’ll come back to it

(depending on your views about people incarcerated). I have been writing to a person serving a life sentence in America for over a year. Just being a friend to someone who previously had none (no family, or ‘outside’ friends as he’s been there a long time), has changed his life for the better as I am constantly being told by him. An unexpected benefit is that my life has also been enriched as a result of this friendship. Very rewarding.

I’m going to belatedly declare this down for the work I did in Mexico and further for being my friends pillar of support right now, I know I have changed his life for the better, he even told me so.

but honestly right now I can’t think of anything. Besides, I’ve been told by several people that I’ve improved their lives by either setting a good example, giving advice, or just being there. So while it’s a little anticlimactic…I’m done. :)