"The Really Great Make You Feel That You, Too, Can Become Great"

You may not want to believe it, but almost every single day of your life you're going to encounter someone that (even if only for a few moments) looks up to you. Obviously there are many different shades and depths to it, but do you honestly understand that you're a role model more often than not in our society?

Think about it. In many countries, we dedicate entire television shows, websites, magazines, and just about every other form of informative media to celebrity gossip. We know when so and so breaks up, gets back together, or finally starts their happy, little family. We know when Britney shaves her hair off and when Beiber simply cuts his. We know when somebody makes a foolish slip of tongue or volunteers their time and status to benefit those in need.

Why do we care? I'm not really sure. My guess is simply what this blog is about. We always want to have somebody to look up to. Perhaps want is even the wrong word. I believe that we can't even help it in most cases. Maybe we're looking to laugh at someone's faults, or jealously compare our lives and beliefs to another's. Sometimes you just find the lifestyles of others to be simply fascinating. Celebrity or not.

Think about your siblings and extended family for a moment. Think about the years you spent growing up with and around your older and younger siblings. Think about your best friends big brother or sister that you both wanted to be just like when you finally reached their age. We grew up knowing that nobody was cooler or greater than those people. Was it irrational? Maybe. So what. During these moments in your life, especially your youth and adolescence, these are the exact people we needed around.

Time to turn the tables, reader. Weren't you the big brother or sister at some point? Weren't you the older cousin or friend's hero a few times? We all were. Some take it for granted while others recognize this role and play on it just the way that we're supposed to. You could be the head of a church or other volunteer group. You can coach a youth sports team or Cubscouts/Girlscouts-type-of-thing. You could be a badguy too. There's no rules set for who you're going to be. Especially in someone else's eyes.

Finally, I guess the point of all this is to say that the next time you're out doing things that you may regret in retrospect, please be considerate of the impressionable youth that may be there taking it all in. Like I said in the beginning, you may not think so, but people look up to you. Often. Being a better person is not only beneficial to yourself and life, but just as much so for the casual to ceaseless observers that take part in them too.

On this blog's "side note" I have some particularly exciting news (at least to me);
I will soon be writing a weekly blog for a local news website for the Algonquin area. Specifically about things to do and places to go in McHenry County when you're looking to embrace the outdoors this summer (cookout spots, parks, conservation districts, scenic drives, etc). I'm still in discussions with the woman that runs it, but I'll obviously keep everyone updated as it evolves. Thanks for reading!

Mothers Are A Cause For Celebration

This Sunday is Mother's Day. I think it's appropriate to dedicate this Thursday's blog to not only my own mother, but all the mothers I know. I'm sure some would call it a Hallmark holiday or whatever, but honestly, why shouldn't we celebrate the women that allowed us each to emerge into their world? I absolutely understand that some are not fortunate enough to still have their biological mothers in their lives, be it from divorce, disagreement, disease, or death, but for those of us that do, is it truly an inconvenience to take a few moments this Sunday to recognize and appreciate the significant role that your mother has played in your life? Almost anyone can admit that the person they are today has been nothing short of momentously influenced by her.

I was one of the privileged and fortunate suburban American youths of my generation to grow up with both of my biological parents being fully involved in my life. Not only was my mother around for my sister, brother, and I's upbringing, but we had a very engaging father, grandmother, and grandfather as well. Do I honestly think I'd be a different person today had those circumstances been different? Completely. Absolutely. Entirely.

My mother, who just turned 52-years-old last month, is one of the single most hard-working people I've ever known in my life. She proposed to my father at a mere 18-years-old and was married to him only a few months after her 19th birthday. In a couple of months, my parents will be celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary (and yes, I do recognize how rare it is for someone of my generation to be able to brag about such an achievement. Ironically, divorce is something that isn't commonplace in family tree).

Point of all that is to say this; as a nearly 26-year-old, single male, I couldn't possibly ask for a better set of role-models when learning about what's truly important when understanding qualities of healthy, fair, and fulfilling relationships. Eventually, I'll be getting married and raising a family too. When I do, I trust that it will be honest, true, and rewarding.

So, to the mothers out there, you are more important to your children than even they can understand. There's going to be bumps in the road. There's going to be blocks and speed traps on that road too. In the end though, you need to accept the challenge that is motherhood and hopefully, someday have raised your children into appreciative, loving, and passionate adults that can proudly pass those traits onto their own offspring.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom