I have 4 to 5 quotes which I have carried around with me since early adulthood – concepts that have stayed with me and helped define who I am as a human being. One of the most important is a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:
“Every man I meet is my superior in some way, in that I learn from him.”
Of course, Emerson was of a different age, so I substitute “person” for “man,” but the message of the quote is what matters. Everyone has value, and everyone can teach you something. We all come from different places, different viewpoints, and different life paths. And it is those unique paths that greatly affect the lessons we take from life.
This means that everyone has the ability to teach you something.
I have learned valuable lessons from people at all stages of development and from all walks of life. Sure, sometimes I learn what not to do, sometimes I learn who I don’t want to become, but I learn nonetheless.
So, the moral of this short post is simple: No matter a person’s education, age, or station in life, each person has the ability to teach you something valuable. You just have to be open to listening.
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Note on the Quote: I committed this quote to memory decades ago, so when I decided to write this post, I did a Google search to make sure I had remembered the words exactly. The results were quite disappointing. There seems to be no authoritative source for the exact wording or the origin of the quote. While this doesn’t affect the quote’s message or value, I thought it only proper to disclose the issue of its potential lack of historical credibility.
Twitter: bdorman264
Hey Adam, thought I’d drop by.
That is my philosophy as well; I can learn something from everybody I come in contact with. Every encounter can be a ‘life’ lesson of what to do or not to do.
Regardless of your station in life, when it’s all said and done we all go out the same way. Therefore, for my short stint here on this big green and blue ball I would like to think I have impacted someone in a positive way and they were better off than before from our encounter.
Good luck with your journey and thanks for reaching out to me.
Bill Dorman recently wrote about this…Do you have a defining moment
Good to see you here Bill! I appreciate you picking up on this theme. I see so many people that are closed off to what others have to offer because they prejudge the person in some way. Of course, we all have our moments, but if we are open to it, I think everyone brings something to the table, even if it’s what not to do.
I am sure you are making quite an impact with your work with the Guardian Ad Litem program. No doubt you are leaving many better off than before.
Thanks for visiting and commenting!