"I write so that my handful of pebbles, cast into still waters, will create a ripple."

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Are You Anyone's Favorite Person?


This New Years I'm taking an idea from a YouTube video by Miranda July "Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody?" It has some timely thoughts for 2012 that may just possibly change your life. Check it out (but first finish reading my blog.)

Are you the favorite person of anybody?

Say what?

Are you anyone’s favorite person?

Uh, no.

How sure are you of that? Very sure? Confident? You think so?

Wait a minute. Yes I am. My sister. I’m my sister’s favorite person.

You sure of that?

I smile broadly. Yes. I’m sure. That’s what sisters are for. You can’t mistake favorite person-ness in sisters. We shared a room for years. We talk for hours about everything. We’re going to share a home when we’re old. And my husband. I’m his favorite person. Forty years and counting. He watches for me so he can share his adventures and his stories. We have each others back, Till death do us part and all that. And Mitzi, the young woman who worked for me for nearly a decade. For all those years I was her favorite person except for her father, and now he’s passed and she’s moved on, but the memories are there. Definitely her favorite person.

How can you be so sure about these guys?

Because…because…because they’re my favorite person right back. And my sister Laura because she’s so gentle and giving. And my nephews because they’re so strong under adversity. And my children because--wait there’s more….

I know I’m their favorite person because I put myself out there. And if I’m not #1 at the moment I’m at least #2, or maybe #3. I've definitely been on somebody’s  top 10 during the last decade. Anyway, who cares if favorite-ness doesn’t last forever? What matters is that I measured up at the time. 

It feels really good to know that I make a difference. Isn’t that the point of life? Something we can all agree on?

In the probability that I AM someone's Favorite Person, here’s what I’ve learned from it :
1.      Be sincere.
2.      Be of service.
3.      Be available.
4.      Reciprocate. Give back.
5.      Love without judging.
6.      Laugh without reason.
7.      If something needs fixing, fix yourself first.
8.      Put your best self forward consistently
9.      Apologize and mean it.
       Realize that you have the best half of the friendship.

How about you? Are you anyone’s favorite person? 

6 comments:

  1. You were my favorite person all through childhood, Mom :). And now I see that in Ava's eyes with me. But she sure does talk an awful lot about her Grandma Banana...

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  2. A child can't have too many "favorite people". I see her love for you. And you deserve it. You're a great mom!

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  4. You are becoming a favorite friend of mine and you meet 1-9 easily. Happy New Year.

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  5. Wow, Anne, that is some story and well told. Also unbelieveable how you did it, but you did! When I think of how much parents spend on their kid's wedding- and the ceremony lasts longer than the actual marriage (see Kim). My parents were married in Reno, and stayed married their entire life...some 50 plus years. Nice job...and great talk last night!

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  6. My brother says I'm his favorite person. And for some reason, I believe that. It must be the most flattering words uttered out of another's mouth.
    I know you feel me on that one!

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