The Greatest

They* say you only meet 7 great women in your lifetime. I don't know if this applies to both genders, or if you also only meet 7 great men in your lifetime. This wasn't covered in the text. I'm all for burning lizard tails and newt eyes in order to conjure up those who presented this idea, but I'll get to that, um, later.

For now, let's assume that every person meets exactly seven truly amazing women and seven truly amazing men in the span of their existence.

The idea is for you to try and make that list. Now, depending on your age, you may not have met all fourteen yet. I suppose there's a chance you have. There's probably also a chance you haven't met any of them. In which case you're excused. Go catch the early bus and watch afternoon cartoons.

I think making such a list is a really circuitous route towards appreciating the people who make your life special. Actually taking the time to sit down and figure out who has elevated themselves in your opinion means they will, most likely, now hold some increased significance. And that's a good thing. Because whether you sign your name extra hard on their Christmas card or not, you may subconsciously approach them with a sense of reverence. And you're also one step closer to carefully evaluating with whom you choose to spend your time.

As with every idea, there is a downside. The point of this isn't to degrade anyone else, or to expose their flaw in the harsh light of someone else's attributes. The point is to recognize the special ones, and be thankful for them.

*"They" being the underappreciated film, A Bronx Tale.