By Christina Espinosa
Jason Jones. Try to find someone in our world who doesn’t know that name. He let me call him J. People are sharing so many wonderful stories and tributes about Jason and his impact in their lives, and they’re all so familiar. There is truly nothing I can say that anyone who knew him didn’t also experience. Jason was a gift to the world. He made everyone in his orbit feel so special, so seen, and so valued.
One of the many things I heard him say 100 times, in every presentation we gave, was “Your ability to influence others is directly related to how they feel about themselves in your presence”. I’ve been thinking about that a lot. How did you feel about yourself in his presence? I know I always felt better, more at ease, and uniquely valued. I know I always looked forward to time with him, it was real and genuine. J valued people, and he lived it. He showed it, he said it, he did it, and he kept learning how to do it better.
I remember a few years ago when he realized the difference between asking someone what he could do for them in a tough time and just doing something that didn’t require them to come up with the what. That’s what matters, isn’t it? Jason lived through showing up. He did so in ways that eased the burden and relieved a need that he spent time figuring out. We knew he cared because he told us and he showed us. I want the world to know, I want Jess and the boys to know how much Jason mattered to us all — how much he changed us all.
We all know J’s influence is deep and wide. In rooms full of people, or one on one, Jason spoke with a vulnerability and honesty that people heard, that pierced through. He loved creating that genuine connection with people. He listened closely. He remembered. And he checked back in.
This beautiful bald man also loved teasing, making people laugh, and going out to lunch. We always knew there was going to be good food at an event J helped plan. It was just another of J’s deeper understanding of making the most of time spent well together.
You can learn more and share tributes at the Jason Jones Memorial
