people are like sponges...

I dont want to be influenced. but i am...daily. my first reaction: stop the noise- put the headphones in so i can stop the outside influence and be my own. but that is not what life is about. influence is everywhere, absolutely without a doubt. and God puts it all there for a reason. I really do believe that God puts everything around you so you can learn and be influenced, it is what you do with these influences that is important. i can honestly say that these last few months i have made a point to learn something from everyone i talk with....its working out. my mind is open in a good way...i dont automatically throw someones words out the window because of something in the past...but rather i listen harder. i want to see hearts, not bodies. my desire is to know people, to really know their hearts and then to learn from them. it is like people are sponges...and i just want to squeeze every ounce of knowledge or opinion out of them, for my own sake. i feel hungery, to see God thru people, i want ultimately see his influence on people and really learn from that.