Who are the people that are regularly influenced by you and do you check yourself to be sure your influence is setting the example you intend or hope for?
I feel it's anyone having contact with me, knowing me or of me, associating with me. It's like a doppler effect. The whole, "you never get a second chance to make a first impression" is entirely true. On a smaller scale, definitely my children. Especially my Autistic developmentally disabled foster son who will be 37 in two weeks. I've known him since he was 10, came to live with us when he was 15, and unfortunately after divorcing, had to put him back in the system as my life had drastically changed and balancing work with home life without that support system was difficult. I still have the mom guilt over it. I do pick him up for an overnight visit once a month and take him to family holiday/birthday events. I know at the time he re-entered the system, it was developmentally time for him to be around similar peers, to foster more independence for himself (as was related to me by my ex to quell my anxiety). My ex has not done anything in regards to picking him up or spending time with him other than when I bring him to events. I can't answer for that. That's on him. I want to be sure my foster son knows I love him, and I care. He is my life coach. He is the epitome of unconditional. I can only hope to come close to the life changing impact/influence he's made in my life.