My heroes!

As you may have noticed, I love making lists. They are tidy, it gets everything out on the page, and are easy and fun to read. So, why not make one today?

Lately, I've been thinking of what I wanna do in life. I wasn't thinking about it in practical terms, simply what I think would be awesome to do and how much fun it would be. That's when it hit me - not only did someone already do every single one of this things, I could actually name these people. It seems like our ambitions depend on our experience - in other words, when we see someone doing something we perceive as great, we naturally want to follow in their footsteps. So, here's my list of five inspirational people!

  1. Madonna -For someone to rise from the ashes like Madonna did, takes real courage and bravery. Many people say she had to use her relationships and connections in order to get to where she is now, but I say kudos. For someone who only learned how to sing halfway through her career, to be the queen of pop is no small thing!
  2. Jonathan Larson - The Broadway legend sports one of the most inspirational stories I've ever heard. A poor composer, he composed a rock-opera that embraces the concept of Carpe Diem, only to suddenly die after giving his first interview. But he still lives through his work, reminding us that there is no day but today.
  3. Rufus Wainwright - Not only my favorite male artist in the world, he is also a true example of how you can turn your life around and go through life no matter what you've been through. Sexually assaulted at the age of 14, a drug addict later on and the most critically acclaimed singer-songwriter of a new generation, he deserves to make my list!
  4. Frida Kahlo - An influential, bold Mexican painter who not only endured severe injuries in her life, she had the strength to turn them into pieces of art dealing with her own pain and sexuality.
  5. Michael Cunningham - One of the best living authors, winner of the Pulitzer prize, translated in many languages... His books touch me like no other, he understands the human sensitivities and fears and bleeds his emotions all over his novels. Highly reccomended!
Other honorable mentions: Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp, Oscar Wilde, Meryl Streep, J.K. Rowling, Oprah, ... Who do you think I should add here?

16 comments:

I really like Idina Menzel and Oprah. You could also add Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Jesus Christ, Gordon B. Hinckley, Joseph Smith.

 

I love the 'no day but today' because really, we have no idea what tomorrow may bring. Personal inspirational people on my list include Byron Katie, Adyashanti, Eckhart Tolle, the Dalai Lama, Dan Millman, Stephanie Meyer, Diane Lane and Marie Osmond. Not to mention every single one of us having the courage to walk through this life journey together! High on my list is anyone with a healthy sense of humor who can look at life and see it's gifts and absurdities and marvels.

 

@Susette: Yay, another Idina fan! And Mother Theresa and Ghandi as well!

@Lorna: the Dalai lama for sure, and I'll have to look up some of the other people you mentioned. But why Stephanie Meyer?

 

Because I, among other women I know, can read her Twilight series over and over and it never gets old. Have never been able to do that before. Maybe it's not Tolkien or C.S. Lewis, but like Rowling, her work is creative and down-to-earth with noble ideas. I also love that her sense of humor shines thru her writing (another reason I like the Dalai Lama & G.B. Hinckley); anyone who can crack me up makes my hero list. Meyers doesn't sugar coat her characters and sometimes she's risque but in a non-offensive way. That's appealing. She's not afraid of the real world but doesn't club us over the head with it, lol.

 

I would have to say for me Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King Jr., Ghandi, Mother Theresa, Princess Diana, Anne Frank and Audrey Hepburn. There is something that each of their lives touched in me!

 

oops and my Dad and Dave Girgenti!

 

@Lorna - I see what you're saying. I've only read book 1 of the series, but I like it more than Tolkien and Lewis put together. :)

@waiting4love - OMG, Princess Diana! How could have I forgotten!?

 

Nikola, seriously? What are you waiting for? I think of the four the third is my favorite, but each one has something totally unique to offer so you never, ever get bored. I've lost count how many times I've read them, like one continuous round. I read other books every day, but her series is the one I read before sleep every single night. Interesting yet soothing. Hard to explain...but seriously, you'd love the rest of 'em :)

 

You writing is so neat and easy to read. To be honest I'm not sure who to tell you. Don't spend too much time admiring others sometimes we should take time to admire ourselves. So you could put down yourself if you feel happy with what you've accomplished or have managed not to do. A celebrity I respect a lot though would be Alicia Keys just for being so simple and down to earth. Wish I could play piano like her, I'm glad she hasn't fallen into the cruel world of celebrity like so many others.

And also, I'll try to put a review of the book soon!! :) It's an amazing read.

 

I agree with Oprah.
And Christian's pick of Alicia Keys is a good one too. I love her music and she seems to be down-to-earth still.

 

I don't have heroes, just not in my temperament. But I think the world would be a worse place without Temple Grandin and her work in making autism comprehensible to 'normals', and her insights into animal behaviour and how humans can learn to understand and appreciate animals more.

How about Aung San Suu Kyi? She must be the bravest woman on the planet. And Sophie Scholl was amazingly courageous as well, although she is not especially well known.

 

sorry, i just got your comment!

blogrolls? what's that?

 

Dude, where are you? Wiling the time away relaxing on a tropical beach somewhere? No new blog posts.....

 

Wow, great selections! I love Rufus and Idina. Hmm, I will have to read up on Rufus. I didn't know he went through those things!