14. Gloria Steinem

14. Gloria Steinem. When I first had the idea to list 50 people who influenced or inspired me over my lifetime (in the 50 days leading up to my 50th birthday), I made a list.27 people came to me right away. Gloria Steinem was number 4, followingStephanie Sisson, Swami Vivekananda and Ram Dass.But the funny thing is, I don't really even know that much about Gloria Steinem. I mean, I do, of course I do, but it wasn't like I was super familiar with her work or quoted her or sought her out, but she still made a huge impression on me. Around 1993- 1994 I was living at the Aloha Terrace on the corner of 10th and Aloha on Capitol Hill, right up the street from Orpheum Records, and what was that pizza place right there called? Anyway. Bailey- Coy books was further down by a couple of blocks on the same side of the street. I was living up there, going to grad school, playing in a band, walking my dog around Broadway and exploring who I was, what my place would be in the world.I think it must have been at Bailey-Coy that I picked up a copy of Gloria Steinem's book Revolution from Within. I remember going back to my apartment, lying on my bed and reading that book. Honestly, I don't really even remember much of what it said or what it was about. I think the title itself had already stirred something in me - Revolution from Within. But here is one thing I do know. Somewhere in that book, she says something like, "It only takes one adult in a child's life - and they don't even have to be in their daily life or close proximity - but that there is one adult in a child's life who the child absolutely knows has got their back, and that child will have a real chance."That idea always stayed with me, and it is something I have thought of many, many times with all the kids in my life. Just one adult.But even more, I think it is the sentiment itself that had such a profound impact on me - the idea that knowing that at least one person really accepts you and loves you as you are and knows you are going to be ok, helps you to actually be ok. That is the power of the wisdom presence.It may take just one adult to create a lifeline for a child, but perhaps that is true about everyone of all ages to each other. Maybe it just takes me - or you - to really care about someone, or even just to show them a basic kindness, for them to have a sense of being valued, and therefore perhaps, hopeful.Somehow, Gloria Steinem, this powerful activist, talking about us looking out for each other, through this one hazily remembered passage in a book, became number 4 on my list. I don't think until I saw her name in that position that I really thought about her or how she ended up there. But as I look back on who I was becoming at that particular time in my life, her message of of love as an action - a revolution from within - most definitely influenced my choices and my evolving path.In fact, that same message became and remains a driving force in my life.So yeah, number 4.