How do you thank a memory?

There is a man who was in my life briefly, fleetingly, about 18 months go and who I rarely see except for chance meetings in theatre foyers every now and again.
Yet he is a man whom I can say in all honesty that I will be indebted to for the rest of my life. And what’s strange is he doesn’t even know this.
He inspired me in a way that no one else ever has because he challenged me to the best I can be, even to be better than I believed I could ever be.
He made me realize that I had no excuse not to have the tools I needed to be successful at what I loved so I went out to learn them.
He didn’t do this because he had a deep affection for me or because he felt I needed or deserved it. He did it just by being himself.
He works in the theatre world and like a lot of theatre practitioners he demands the best of people, sometimes even before they know what that is.
I think that’s why I have such a passion for theatre, why I keep coming back to it no matter how much I rebel, because it’s not afraid to challenge you and go straight to the heart of who you are.
To have the dedication to work with different people on a regular basis, to get through rehearsals, to communicate intimate stories to complete strangers whether you are a writer, director, producer or actor takes guts and a passion that means that losers need not apply.
I love people who love theatre because they are the kind of people who can inspire someone to change their life without even knowing it.
I have recently discovered that in the world of writing being challenged is better than being complimented and I think that’s why the memories of this person have resurfaced.
I don’t know when I’ll see him again but, even if I saw him tomorrow, I don’t think I would tell him that it was him who challenged me, inspired me and helped me.
I will tell him one day…but I want to wait till I can do it in the opening pages of my first published play.