Ford & Edison Slept Here

Recently one of my dreams came true in that I got to stand on the very "porch" that Ford, Edison, Firestone Jr. and Sr. and others stood many years ago at Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina. I've always said "Can you imagine being a fly on the wall, listening to the world-changing conversations swirling around on that porch!?"

Some stones were repaired or altered over time, so the typography has changed slightly since the original photo was taken. And there is now a platoon of rocking chairs that clutter up the space. And then there's the constant flow of tourists, making picture-taking of the spot nearly impossible. Any hope of taking in the energy in a quiet moment was squashed with the constant buzz of people going in and out, to and fro, back and forth.

I must admit that I've always has a jealous spot for people who changed the world. Ford, Edison and the Firestone. Rockefeller and Carnegie. Tesla. And John Lennon.

As I took it all in I didn't get a sense of anything other than something cool happened here a long time ago and that it was a busy, grand hotel. And then it dawned on me. We all have the opportunity to change the world in our own way. A helping hand, an encouraging word or simply listening can change the entire direction of another's life. 

Never underestimate the impact you have on the world. Someday there may be someone standing where you are right now, telling others that you slept here!

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