Heroes

Heroes...we all have them.  That one person who we look up to more than anyone else.  For most of my life, that person has been my aunt Lynn.  A lot of my childhood memories are from times when I was with her.  I spent many summers at her house along with school vacations or quick weekends.  She was an amazing person, and she had an amazing will to live.  She inspired all of us to be better than we were, and I can honestly say that I would not be the teacher I am today if it weren't for her.  Sadly, we lost her after a courageous battle in August.  Not a day goes by that I don't think about her, and I don't expect that will ever change.

I've come to realize this past week that your hero might not be just one person.  I sat down yesterday morning to send my daughter an inspirational quote as she was traveling to regional cross country.  I closed that text with, "You are my hero."  And, it was definitely a true statement.  This young girl chose (as you might remember from my last post) to make a change and start running cross country.  She never participated in that sport before, and she did this even though she knew it meant no more Saturdays with her closest friends at volleyball tournaments.  At the age of 15, there is no way I would have gone my own way.  I would have stuck with my friends.  She knows what she wants and she set her mind to do it.  She is my hero.

As I pushed send yesterday, I realized that heroes come in all shapes and sizes.  While many of us have that one person in mind when we hear the word hero--a family member, a veteran, a friend, etc., we are really surrounded by people who show heroic qualities everyday.  It might be a hug, just when you need it most or an email thanking you for something you have done.  It could be anything.  I challenge everyone to look for that heroic quality in the people around you.

You don't become a hero because of what you do but because of who you are.