A recent issue of a popular news magazine highlighted 100 of the world’s most influential people. Each “influential” person was highlighted with a brief essay written about them, written by another individual who has witnessed this person’s influence.
I loved reading the magazine. Cover to cover. And while I did not agree with every person selected, the quality of the writing (the sheer excellence in the handling of the English language) and the emotions and ideals it evoked were inspiring, challenging and beautiful all at once.
Below are excerpts from just six of the one-hundred essays. Each excerpt below was written about a different person.
With one exception, I’ve deleted the names of the people being written about. I’ve done so for two reasons. First, it allows you to put your own name in the blank…."what if these things were being written about me and were true of me?" Second, it eliminates potential bias you might have against the person and their selection in the “Top 100” which could result in an inability to wrestle with the qualities being written about. The point isn’t whether or not you agree with each author’s analysis, but the ideals and qualities it calls out in each of us.
#1
If I ever had to be stuck in a long line. I would like to be stuck there with _______. It wouldn’t matter what we were waiting for or how long it would take to get it. It wouldn’t even matter if it was the kind of line we had to camp out on because it went around the block. It’s nice to stand around with ______. He’s interesting because he’s interested. He asks great questions, and he waits for the answers. He has a sort of wondrous capacity for wonder.
#2
His courage—the courage to go first, to lead, where none have gone before—is unmatched. When he speaks, he gives those who hear him confidence: not in him but in themselves. It was said of
#3
She is a fighter for causes that count. Whether people agree with _____________ or not, they learn quickly that it is worth paying attention to what she has to say.
#4
I have never seen such tenacity, such ambition, such fight and such honor go into every shot as when I watch Rafael Nadal.
#5
It has been said that after meeting with the great British Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone, you left feeling he was the smartest person in the world, but after meeting with his rival Benjamin Disraeli, you left thinking you were the smartest person. That latter touch is the essence of _____________.
#6
It’s said the average human has 100,000 heartbeats a day. ________ may not have more of them than the rest of us, but each one is powered by purpose. And every year, somehow she reminds us anew of the song that plays in our best dreams.
