Influence or nurture?

A freind posed an interesting question to me. If you could choose the people you have in your life, would you have those who influence you in positive ways or those who nurture you? I choose the latter. Somehow influence has a air of the holier-than-thou, I-know-whats-good-for-you that I abhor in people. We often run into people who pontificate on how we should live our lives without really investing time and effort into trying to understand us up close. These people operate from the Ego. Influencing others gives them a sense of power and superiority. That's why I prefer the nurturing kind. It speaks of humility and compassion. It speaks of active engagement, interest, affection and genuine concern. Well, we never get to choose in life. Or do we?