I heard a singer-songwriter explain in his intro that, "We are nothing more than a composite of the influences of those around us!"

In my view, we can take this remark in a couple of ways.

If we are influenced by strong positive attributes then these influences are helping to shape our attitude towards others!

If we are influenced by negative attributes, then so is our attitude towards others!

Every waking moment of our lives, someone or something triggers our emotions and we act or react accordingly.

When we are exposed to constant bickering and innuendo, we are either going to join in the gossip and add more fuel to the fire or we are going to put a stop to this type of activity and choose to be more positive and speak words of encouragement; or let the individual(s) run out of steam and they will realize and hear themselves and hopefully correct their behaviour.

There is always a choice and whatever the influences, we tend to embrace the "easy" way out.

While en route from Whitehorse to Inuvik, I met a young man from Powell River, B.C., and during our conversation we talked about his work as a biologist for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. He commented that, "It takes a fish with backbone to swim upstream."

In humanitarian terms, it takes a positive man to turn the negative words into positive words and give encouragement to move forward.

We've all noticed that in smaller settlements, when someone speaks or does something, whether good or bad, everyone else knows or hears about it rather quickly!

There is a ripple effect for a day or two, then it blows over.

It would be fantastic if everyone spoke something positive and had it resonate throughout the community. You would notice people walking about with a spring in their step and a smile on their faces!

Why don't we try this? Say something positive to someone and then say, "Pass it on"! Let's be a positive "influence!"

• Harry Maksagak is a Cambridge Bay resident and former underground miner at the Lupin gold mine. He has been married for 38 years and has six children and 26 grandchildren