I woke up this morning to a message that put a smile on my face.
A few days ago, after giving a client her photos, she sent me a message telling me that
her wedding photographer and I had inspired her to get a camera.
My immediate thought:
"So this is what Kelly Manno feels like!"
I know for sure 3 brides of Kelly Manno's,
myself included,
have uttered the same words to Kelly after she shot our weddings.
I also know the 3 of us are no where near the only ones Kelly has inspired.
I messaged Kelly to tell her about my experience.
Her response?
"That was the sweetest comment I have ever gotten"
Hence, my smile this morning.
How simple.
I could have, and should have told Kelly what an inspiration she was a long time ago!
I am positive other girls feel the exact same way I do.
Not only does Kelly inspire, she teaches.
She isn't selfish with her skills,
she WANTS to share.
She could say, "Yep, I'm a bad ass photographer (well, she is!!)
and I don't want to share my secrets with you!!"
But Kelly would never do that. Ever.
Thank you Kelly.
Without you, and all that I have learned from you- I would have never had my,
"So this is what it feels like" moment.
I began thinking about people who have inspired me.
Clearly Kelly with photography.
But what about counseling?
For sure Connie Clay, my high school guidance counselor.
Jim Fleming, one of my social studies teachers who was very supportive when my dad died.
Stephen Brownfield, my youth pastor who allowed me in when he counseled female youth and counseled me when I needed him.
But originally,
SHARON ENGLISH.
Sharon was my 5th grade teacher.
I was so excited when I got my room assignment.
I had wanted Mrs. English as a teacher so badly!
Everyone did, she was amazing.
She truly loved her students and her job.
She loved her family too.
She had 3 sons and she wanted them included in EVERYTHING.
Many teachers hated coming to school events.
Mrs. English brought her entire family along.
She was often the life of the party at the events.
The other teachers loved her too.
I wanted to be just like her.
When I moved on to middle school,
I always went back to visit Mrs. English.
She always seemed excited to see me
She even sent me a Christmas Card every year.
One time I went to visit her and left heart broken.
She had no idea who I was.
How could she have forgotten me?
This woman, who was such an inspiration to me, who I cared for and admired...
forgot me.
I few weeks later I received her Christmas Card in the mail.
She apologized, said she had been busy...
it was my last card I would ever get from her.
A few days later, while at my youth group's winter retreat,
my mom called me.
Mrs. English had passed away.
She had a brain tumor.
Another girl who had been in my class and I cried for hours.
I wished I had known,
I would have hugged her, even if she didn't remember me.
I would have REMINDED her-
then reminded her how amazing she was, how much she meant to me.
I didn't understand. I still don't.
She was truly a blessing to have on this earth.
I was so angry God took her from her boys, and her husband.
She would have been the perfect Mother-in-Law, Grandmother- everything.
She had very little warning.
She was so young. She had to of been in her 30's.
No one ever would have thought to tell her how much she meant to them,
they still had plenty of time...
Mrs. English died around Christmas.
It may have even been Christmas Day, I'm not sure.
I hope her boys remember her as vividly as I do.
I am sure they do.
It will be 10 years since my dad died and I can still hear him singing.
I hope her boys realize how blessed they were to have had her for the short amount of time they did. She loved them so much.
I can't tell Mrs. English how much she meant to me,
but I sure can tell her sons.
Hopefully, they will show their dad.
Maybe even their own kids.
Mrs. English inspired me to be a school counselor.
She made me see that teachers really do care,
and they really can make a difference.
I am so honored to say she was my inspiration.
I am honored to have had her in my life.
So, if any of my readers have stuck with me through this post, I want to encourage you to tell the person who inspired you, who molded you into who you are, how much they mean to you.
If a simple truth written to Kelly Manno even so much as made her day,
then it's time we start telling people the little truths,
because if we wait, sooner or later, it will be too late.
Generally, people need a push to do something like this.
So...
Think of the person who inspired you.
Nominate them for a free photo session.
(weddings and birth stories excluded)
Write to me (amy.meyerott@yahoo.com) and tell me how this person molded you into who you are today.
The winner of this will receive a free photo session,
your nomination letter in a frame,
and you will be invited to the end of the photo session for a picture of you and the person who made a lasting impression on you.
I would love to have a picture of me with Mrs. English.
Kelly, be prepared.
I am coming after you with a camera soon!!
Nominations are due by Jan 7th, 2011
All nominees must be able to attend a photo session in either St. Louis, MO or Las Vegas, NV
Happy New Year Everyone.
