ELEVEN years ago, Keanu Reeves taught me a lesson on love.
This sounds silly, but a massive crush on the Speed star caused me to rethink my situation and break up with a boy I was seeing then.
I couldn't help it. I was young and foolish while he (Keanu, not the boyfriend) was this exotic mix of tallness, and dark, brooding good looks. One look at his close-up on the big screen and, suddenly, he was all I could think about.
In hindsight, Keanu saved me from going down a path I would have regretted. One that would have ended only in heartbreak.
He just sped up the process and saved me the time I would've wasted.
Having a crush on someone I hadn't met and never will meet was a sign that I wasn't in love with that boyfriend.
Back then, I didn't know what love really was.
I didn't know that it entailed a little more than silly flutters of the heart and liking the same movies.
Anyway, I guess you could say that Keanu was a real "influence" in my life when it came to figuring out love. Love is such a tricky thing.
One's list of influential people changes with time - obviously Keanu Reeves does not figure in my life much any more these days.
The influential people in my life now are, of course, my family and close friends.
Thing is, my loved ones, unlike me, are kind of shy and private, and do not wish to have their names, pictures, videos, personalities and idiosyncrasies spelled out and splashed across this page. But what the heck, surely they wouldn't mind just a little attention.
They are:
My parents
I would say they have influenced me the most without even realising it. Maybe even without me wanting it.
Now that I'm all grown up, I don't know whether to laugh or cry when I think about the way I was brought up.
There are definitely things they did which I don't agree with. My parents were pretty old-school and maybe didn't know that some words they said may have cut like a knife and still be remembered till this very day by their daughter.
Having said that, my parents have also influenced me in a positive sense.
I'm a driven, street-smart and practical adult only because my parents are the same kind of people. I'm also a thrifty saver, thanks to them.
My sister
She has been a big influence in my life.
My sister is six years younger than me, but is very wise for her age.
Firstly, she's got much better fashion sense, compared to me.
So, many of my smart fashion choices are heavily influenced by her.
Best of all, she's not at all judgmental, because I'm her darling older sis whom she loves. I can tell her anything and she wouldn't be fazed. Instead, she'd have something nice or wise to say to make me feel better.
My husband, Glenn
He's another major influence in my life, of course.
Although I don't really take his advice all the time because I'm fiercely independent, it's always nice to get his take on things when it comes to workor family-related choices, and also big financial decisions.
Other influences in my life include my pastor, my girlfriends, and God.
(Yeah, I'm sure Keanu's gutted that he's not on my list anymore.)
