When Someone Believes in You

 If I’ve learned anything while fighting cancer, it’s that life is a glorified act of letting go. Doors AND windows close until the only option left is the final door leading from life itself.

I had a surgery last week, and it made me think about the people who’ve helped shape my life: family, friends, mentors, fiddling teachers, and coworkers. I told my dad about this, and he shared a story.

“One of my elementary teachers,” he said. “That guy changed my life.” He cleared his throat.

As the story goes, one day my dad saw that a fellow fifth grader had a fancy coin. So, during recess my dad took the collector’s coin, but instead of leaving the girl empty handed, he left a nickel in the expensive coin’s place.

The girl cried about her coin, and the teacher must’ve known who took it because he looked right at my dad.

“What we have is a packrat,” the teacher said to the class. “This isn’t someone who’s bad—they could’ve just taken the coin altogether—but this person left SOMETHING in the coin’s place.” The teacher paused. “I’m gonna give this packrat a chance to do what’s right and make a different choice. We will all go into the hallway and then take turns going back into the classroom one by one. That way the packrat can anonymously return the collector coin.”

“And you gave it back?” I asked.

“I did. I wanted to make that teacher proud. Not just that single moment, but the whole year. That teacher changed my life.”

I thought about my dad and all of the incredible things he’s accomplished with my mom. They even founded a caisson drilling company and worked across the nation. All of that made it tough to picture this memory.

“How did he change your life?” I finally asked.

“He believed in me, and when you believe in someone, you give them a pretty powerful gift.”

So, before getting surgery last week, I thought about the people who’ve changed my life and the people who impacted them before I was born—like my dad’s incredible teacher. I’m so grateful for the examples of kindness I’ve been shown in my life, continually reminding me of the person I want to be.

*Pic of me and my dad* 🥰

#storytime #gratitude #ecstilson #fyp #legacy #mentor #bestteachers #bestteacher #amazingteacher #teacher #heartwarming