We credit Mother Teresa with the following quote: “Some people come into our lives as blessings. Some come in our lives as lessons.”

Wise woman.

It’s fun to look back and relish the memories of people I consider blessings. Most of them possess traits, including, but not limited to, fun, intelligence, kindness, talent, and acceptance. They all contribute to my daily gratitude.

Lessons? Oh, the lessons. They are different. It’s not that I don’t appreciate lessons taught by friends, family, and strangers, but they often come with significant pain, confusion, and surprise.

Hopefully, my lessons left me less trusting and naïve, and with a clearer understanding. Our lessons — those really learned — gift us with a bit of wisdom.

I attended a live lecture by Julie Andrews (of The Sound of Music fame), and she said her entire life was perfect and flawless. She seemed a bit shallow and uninteresting. Did she have no lessons to learn or share?

Vanna White, when asked about her childhood and her 40+ year job on Wheel of Fortune, said, “I’ve always felt like a princess.” Her words left me pondering what that looked like.

Does living in an ideal bubble protect a person from the realities of life? I doubt it. We all have lessons to learn, and if we’re lucky, angels come to teach us instead of little devils with red horns and evil eyes.

What I know is that our lessons come to us. We don’t have to go searching or send out invitations. They land on our heads when we least expect or want them.

An unknown author is said to have expressed a similar sentiment to Mother Teresa: “People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.” I prefer the lifetime category. But people come and go. I’ve had many who were seasonal, as well as those who came for a reason—not necessarily to learn a lesson. Those who cheer me up, carry me through, or lift me over are like fireflies—they appear, do their magic, and poof, they’re gone. Sometimes I don’t even know their names.

But isn’t it a cause for joy to remember impactful people who have joined us in life, no matter for a lesson, a blessing, a reason, a season, or a lifetime?

Where would we be without them? Some people don’t recognize the hearts and souls who show up for them when the time is right. But I believe we all benefit from those moments when someone pops in or walks away, leaving us stunned, speechless, with weak knees, racing minds, and the question, “What just happened?”

Wisdom.

Thank you, everyone — past, present, and future — who show up for me. If you know me, you likely fit in one of those categories.

Until the next time: Live while you live.

Jennifer Goble, Ph.D., LPC, is the author of “My Clients…My Teachers,” and the blogger and writer of Rural Women Stories: www.ruralwomenstories.com.

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