h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

...I do know that actions of other people, probably completely unaware, have become corner stones of self esteem for me.

For example, two short, insignificant to him, conversations with a certain university professor when I was an otherwise undistinguished student. I'm still grateful to him twenty years later.

And a chance remark by someone over the phone a few weeks ago that convinced me I still had something to offer, that others respected, on a project I'm involved in.

Their comments counted because they were voluntary on their part and came from people whose opinion I respected.

I'll always be grateful to them, and others, for actually expressing what they did.

And I try, where I'm qualified to do so, to pass on what they gave me.