Heroes

So here it goes...for the first time in my life (well maybe not the first time, but definitely for the biggest audience) I am putting my thoughts out there for everyone to read, criticize, scrutinize, and judge.  Hopefully this blog wont come back with as many red marks as my junior year research paper (who actually reads in high school anyways?!?!) but my hope is that it will at least be a bit entertaining to anyone who might stumble upon it.  I'm not sure how often I will post, what direction they will take, or the tone of which they will come accross but I can tell you that they will be nothing but the truth and exactly how I feel.

Sorry for the boring disclaimer but I assumed that every respectable blogger out there at one time started with something similar to get the creative juices (mmm juice...) flowing.  Now back to the lecture at hand...

Heroes are a funny thing.  You find in the most unlikely of places when you truly find one.  Of course growing up being the huge Atlanta Braves fan that I was, and still am, there were a number of heroes to choose from, but none more important than Sid Bream.  I know you guys are thinking "did this guy really just say Sid Bream?!?!"  And yes I did.  I know there was a team full of guys to choose from but how can you overlook the guy that sent the Braves to the World Series with his epic trip around the bases (I think he stopped halfway between 3rd and home to tighten his standard issue Terminator knee brace usually reserved for offensive linemen) which culminated with him sliding under Mike LaValliere's tag.  And as a 9 year old that was OK.  But now it would be totally cliche, and unacceptable to say any hero of mine was a modern day sports superstar, actor, or individual who has had or is enjoying their fifteen minutes of fame. 

But instead I prefer heroes who don't realize they are heros.  People who make a difference everyday to others that don't even realize that the aforementioned person is actually their hero (get it?)  I am lucky enough to work with these types of people everyday.  People who do their job like they're on a mission and if they don't complete that mission Santa is going to cancel Christmas (man wouldn't that be a disaster?!).   If you can't already tell, I like the unsung hero.  But not because I know the difference that they are making with those around them but because of the difference they make in my life.  Some would say I wear my heart on my sleeve, (I like to think I'm equal parts Jack Bauer, Jay-Z, and Charmin Bear) and that may be true but it is only when someone, something, or some experience has impacted me in such a meaningful way (this blog is truly ironic if you know me and the summer i just had the privilege to experience).  And there is one hero out there I want to say thank you too quickly.  This hero is one that challenged me today to do this very thing.  They think they're a dork because they blog and have practically a million followers (ok so its only 796) but if you read their blog and the comments that are left you would quicly realize they are exactly the person I described above.  Someone who is both a hero to those that know them personally and just as a random blogger.  But I think the thing that makes this person such a hero is that they are going against the grain and doing things becuase it makes them happy.  And ironically the things that make them happy have impacted a huge group of people over the past few months.  So here is my "Thank You" for pushing me to do something that I never thought I could actually do with any type of success (and time and followers will tell) without even realizing you did it. 

So who is your Hero?!?!

Now about that 1/3 part Jay-Z...
"Here's your entertainment for the rest of the evenin'...cause I'm a bigger deal than LeBron leaving Cleveland...How's that possible?  What's this guy got worth readin' 'bout?  All I can say is, LeBron's got no rings but hes still the only thing they talk about!"