Cheri Dixon: A Girl and Her Dog

Hey there y’all! I hope you had a great week! I know I keep saying this, but so many small wins happening here…and those small wins add up! I received my first shipment of the paperback copies of my book, Unleash Her! Opening the box actually took my breath away! The book cover is beautiful, and it actually become real when I saw my words in print!

Last week, I shared my thoughts on influence and those around us that we idolize and the impact they have. Finding good role models in life is so important…and the “influencers” that are having a positive impact on our own lives are a vital part in who we become in life!

This week, I promised that I would share some of the influencers that have had an impact on my life. And as I prepared to write this week, I will focus on the positive ones, but I have to say, there are some people that have come along in the Cheri Dixon world who weren’t so positive, but had just as much impact! Because, although we want to think that life is all roses…the reality is that it isn’t and although hurdles come along the way, they have just as much impact as our great role models do! But, they are a focus for another day! Let’s get started!

Of course, my first set of influencers in life are my family. My parents, grandparents, siblings, and aunts and uncles. We have not always had the picture perfect family life, but every moment growing up has had a tremendous amount of impact on me now, and even when things were hard, looking back, I am grateful for all I learned from those experiences! And, as we all grow and learn more about life, it seems to be those people that a girl can always count on.

Another very influential person in my life has been my daughter. I know she knows that she is very important to me, but being someone who was not planning on having children, her arrival into the world gave me the opportunity to become the mother I always wanted to have as a girl. Seeing her thrive and knowing that she is accomplishing so many great things in her life because of the support she had all of these years, makes me know that even though I didn’t always do everything right, I did a lot of things well!

Then there is Margie! I met Margie in the 8th grade, and immediately loved her! I was assigned to her 8th grade Language Arts class, and her energy and knowledge hooked me in right away! You could definitely tell that she loved her job, but also that she loved her students! She knew us all by name within the first day of school, and took a true interest in our worlds. Not only did she do this for me in the 8th grade (which we all know that 13-14 year old kids are coocoo crazy at this age), she was there when I graduated high school, graduated college, when my child was born, and years later when I was a principal she came and presented at my school. Not only this, but we still keep in touch AND she was the first to preview my chapter in my book because her feedback meant the most to me! Has she influenced my life…you better believe it!

Next up is Crystal! She was my first assistant principal as a teacher, later my principal, later my director as she put me into the principal position, and now my forever friend! I want to say I am pretty amazing at my job, but I know that in reality, it doesn’t matter how amazing you are without the right people placing you in the right positions! Even years after I left my first district and my first principalship, she orchestrated my return to my current position! I met up with her a couple of months ago and it was like we spent no time apart! I owe much of my career to her…which I am sure she knows…and am blessed with all I have learned from her!

On to Teresa! Now, this is my girl! Not only had she become one of my dearest friends that I knew would always be real with me, she was the BEST teacher to my daughter I could have ever asked for! She is one of those that, even when you know you are doing wrong, she will support you and do all she can to guide you back on track! Not only has she been there for me, she was the most constant, loving friend I could have ever asked for when going through the toughest time in my life! I hope she knows the impact she has had on me!

Kelly….I am not sure there are words, but Kelly makes me laugh, cry, and everything in between! She truly is my ride or die in life! There is not ONE THING I could not tell her and she would love me anyway! She has taught me so many things in life, but the most important is to accept people’s flaws and love them anyway!

I am a lucky girl! I could go on and on about friends in my life that have impacted me in some kind of way. I could go on and on about some female celebrities and how watching them handle the life they live and still show up as humans has impressed me! AND, I am not afraid to say, there are even some male figures out there that I totally respect and admire for the way they live their lives and how they handle life when a curve ball is thrown at them! The list could go on and on!

But, I will say this…every person I mentioned above made an impact because they taught me a lesson in life. They challenged me to be a better version of myself at some point in my life. They made me want to make them proud! As I wrap up this week’s post, I only hope that each of you have at least one of these people in your corner! I hope that you can find a way to honor those that push you to be your best self! And, if you need help in this area, I am always here! Until next time! Cheri ❤️