Pivot People - are you a pivot person?

piv·ot \ˈpi-vət\ - a noun, adjective or verb
Definitions

•  a shaft or pin on which something turns
• a person, thing, or factor having a major or central role, function, or effect b : a key player or position; specifically : an offensive position of a basketball player standing usually with back to the basket to relay passes, shoot, or provide a screen for teammates
• the action of pivoting
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In one of many moments of reflection over the past week, I once again realized how my life is filled with "pivotal" experiences that have shaped who I have become. These experiences were all influenced by special people - some of which I only interacted with for a few minutes, but made a lasting impression on my life.
 
We all have these experiences, but do we remember them? do we realize the impact? do we realize how we impact others pivotal moments? Are we ready for them when they occur?
 
Looking back, I've realized that in every case, I was searching for answers, figuring out some things and trying to live right. Perhaps it is a case of "when the student is ready, the teacher will come." Or, when you are ready to make a change, the pivot person will appear?
 
In any case, I'm extremely grateful to be reflecting upon these moments and realizing a few golden nuggets of truth along the way:

Am I living in a way to realize when pivot people are placed in my life?

Am I living and behaving in such a way that I can be the pivot person for someone else in their moment of need?

We are all pivot people, like it or not - just need to make sure that we don't have the negative impact on another in their process of growth.
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**The rest of this is a long set of personal examples - sorry, but I just had to write it all down and get it out of me. Doing so makes me realize how important each interaction with other human beings is important.**
 
Here are a few I came up with and I'm sure there are many, many more:

Resident Assistant - toward the end of my first year of college, some of the girls started asking if I was going to apply to an RA job the next year. I had no idea where that came from, but as soon as they asked me about it, I knew that I was to become an RA. I applied, amongst over 20 other applicants, and ended up being one of the four selected. Others knew it before I knew it.

BYU indoor track - in my third year of college, I had no idea "what I was going to do with my life." I was about to turn 21 years old and didn't feel like I'd be at BYU-Utah that next year. So, I tried to become a sports counselor, started the paperwork for the BYU study abroad program in Israel, looked into BYU-Hawaii, and thought I could somehow pull off being an EFY or Girls Academy Counselor over the summer. One night I walked around the indoor track after a hearty game of intramural basketball. A man in his 50s was walking around the same pace as me and started to carry on a conversation. He asked me about my relationships with men and dating. I told him of my "zero" effectiveness factor in that area. I was "the friend" to all the guys, but not the "girlfriend." He said that he thought a mission would help me with that area and wondered if I would go. I don't know what happened, but walking home that night, I walked on air. I knew at that moment, I wasn't going to do any of those things I had planned on and that I wouldn't be at BYU that next year. I got home and my parents called and asked if I had thought about a mission. The next day a friend on campus saw me and said "Rebecker, you are glowing. Did you decide to go on a mission?" All of this from people that hadn't had any conversations with me before these moments. I was on my missions within three months of these experiences.

Moving to DC - ever since my first family vacations (and youth temple trips) to DC, I knew that I wanted to live there. But, over time I forgot the dream. After graduating from college, I took a trip with some friends back east and was re-reminded of my desire to move to the capital. Within one month of the trip, I had packed everything up and moved to Indiana to live with my parents, substitute teach and figure out how to get to DC. I was in Indiana for about eight months and became actively involved in the singles program there. Before spring break, my father handed me a round trip ticket to DC and said he wanted me to do what I initially came to do - go to live and work in DC. I went and through a series of communications I ended up at the church employment office at 4:50 p.m. on a Friday night which ended up being the perfect timing for a pre-screen interview, then an interview and then a job at Ernst & Young LLP. The job made all my future jobs easier to get because EY has a great reputation. I moved to DC within three weeks of this experience.

Graduate School - after September 11th, I moved home to work virtually for a while. It helped me save some money and figure out the next step of my life. I decided to go to graduate school and enrolled in an MBA program through the University of Maryland. I was two classes into the program when a friend from undergraduate MTC training days (Tonya Barnett) emailed me out of the blue and said that she thought I should immediately apply to a graduate program in instructional design and technology at GMU. I read a one paragraph description and applied. I was accepted and immediately moved back to Virginia to start taking classes. After my first class, I realized that I didn't even know what other classes were involved. I had not once questioned whether I should do this or not. It was right and I took action. I look back now and am amazed at how that all happened and what amazing jobs have come from it.

My condo - after graduate school, I made more money. So, I started to realize it might be time to buy a place of my own. I drove around different areas of town and wrote down areas that I liked. I just did this a couple of times and then went out with a realtor one Saturday night. She kept steering me toward a part of town I wasn't interested in and I came home really discouraged and decided to bag the entire thing. Plus, everything in my price range looked junky to me. My roommate Harrison emailed me at work that next Monday. She never emails me at work. She forwarded a condo that had been posted for sale on the singles listserv. She then called me because she felt like this was my condo. I called up the owners and set up a time to come see it that night. This was in 2004, around the "height" of the bidding wars around here. We both went and I knew before walking in that "this was the place." I literally wrote my offer on a piece of notebook paper and signed it. They didn't let anyone come in and bid over. I'm still in this condo now and am grateful that my friend Harrison had the impression and sent it my way.

Do you have any of these pivot people working in your life?

Secret Happiness becomes Blatant Exhaustion

Well, I admit, I went a bit overboard. I rode my bike about 1 mile yesterday and then figured I could take another ride today.

This is when you realize that you live in hilly neighborhoods! I decided to ride to the bike store to purchase a bike lock. After about two miles I was exhausted and luckily there was a Dick's Sporting Goods store nearby. I bought the lock in there and started back. I had to sit down at a park for about 30 minutes before getting on the bike to do the last mile.

After the six mile trek, I barely made it into my door and I fell down on the ground and just laid there. I almost fainted, felt dizzy and almost got sick. But, one minute on the floor and I was recovered.

Rules for "the wind, the road, and the freedom" in no particular order include:
1 - Wear a helmet
2 - Wear a backpack
3 - Roll up your right pant leg or wear shorts
4 - Bring two bottles of water
5 - Bring ID and medical card
6 - $40 cash for whatever
7 - Know your limits

I'm a far cry from college when I would ride my bike up in the foothills and the canyons of the Rockies everyday, but gotta start somewhere.

P.S. Later in the evening I did get sick - very sick. Not sure if it was from food, sun, biking or a combination of the above.

Ode to the Duck Dishes

Ok, so "ode" is probably not the correct word, but I did want to make an entry specifically devoted to my duck dishes.

I received these dishes from my parents in the Christmas of 1989. I was home for college (yes, I started college in the 80s) for Christmas and my gifts overwhelmed the lower layer of the Christmas tree. It turns out that most of my gifts were plates, cups, glasses, and bowls that formed a complete set. I think there was a set of silverware provided at the same time. I still have those too. Anyway, these are those dishes that you could earn by purchasing a lot of groceries over a few months or so. You would collect coupon points or something and get a discount. I think all "the girls" ended up getting a different set. Mine were the duck dishes. They aren't really my style (country). However, if one has to have a set of country dishes, this would be the best kind to have.

Anyway, my parents assumed I would get married in my early 2os and got these for me. I never used them through college, but I started to use them when I was in graduate school a few years ago and continued to do so when both my brothers (and sister-in-law) and roommates lived with me.

It is now time to move on and sell them on craigslist or donate to Goodwill, but they do deserve a place in my little online notes.

I guess this was an "ode."