[Please keep this on-topic; serious replies/feedback only please]

I've been thinking about this all day for myself; I've been trying for some time now to really consider who is the role model in my life, who do I strive to be. I think I've found mine, finally. And I was wondering if anybody has someone like this that they look up to in their lives.

Who influences you in your attitudes, behaviors, and your perception of your life? Do you have someone like that? It doesn't have to be someone that everybody knows, or is familiar with. It could be a member of your family, your best friend growing up; or it could be your favorite writer, a president, or athlete, even. I'm just curious to hear what other people have to say about theirs.

Please do elaborate on why they are so important in your life, if you can. At least a nice paragraph, or a story; really make this worth your time. Believe me, you won't regret it.

I'll post mine in a second post, once I have it prepared. Thanks for your time.

 

I don't really think I have anybody that influences me in a good way. I would say that my mother influences me on how NOT to treat significant others. My grandmother influences me to NOT act certain ways.

Too many people in my family are just not role model material but I do know that many times in my life, I've made a conscience effort to alter my behavior, based off of my experiences with my family using that same negative behavior. It's not just family, it's others too.

Does that make sense?

 

This is my hero in my life.


TANK MAN (Anonymous Protestor)

This photo was taken on June 5th, 1989, in Beijing during the Tiananmen Square Protests in China. The protests were loosely formed and all the protesters were united under a change in the current governing power and order of China, the People's Republic of China (PRC), they began on April 5th of that year, and ended on June 5th. The Chinese military used force against the protesters, but the range of the death toll that resulted from the force are under some debate; the PRC's toll tallies as much as 400-800 deaths, but the Chinese Student Association/Chinese Red Cross count as high as 2,000-3,000.

On June 5th, one man was walking home from what many assume a shopping center, when he saw a column of tanks rolling down into his neighborhood; he decided that enough was enough. Single handedly, he walked into the street and stopped in front of the lead tank. This is what the photograph above captures (the photograph was taken by Jeff Widener). The tank motions to maneuver around the man, but the man sidesteps to block the machine again. The machine tries to maneuver around the man again, but he is blocked again.

This is a man demonstrating a very rare moment for us. He is demonstrating a power that is within us all, and that is the ability to make a change in our environment, in our world. He stood alone, with no one else to support him, and protected his neighborhood, if only for just a moment. He became the icon that lead to the criticism of the government's response to protesters. He became something more than just a man for just a moment, but always remained human. He inspires me to make changes in my life, and to stand up for my beliefs and my values in life.

Of all the evidence I could gather, the man was not killed during the protest, and instead was protected by citizens and blended into the crowd of onlookers. This link will take you to an interview with Jan Wong, an eye-witness to the account:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontl...iews/wong.html

The story goes on, but I can't document it better than videos have captured. These are two videos that capture the account very well. I recommend the first video for a powerful quote from Mario Savio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Mf9...elated&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9klv9...elated&search=

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Find out who your hero is, and please share with us if you can.
I'd like to hear some serious feedback, also. Please be constructive, and help us to learn from each other.

Thanks again for your time, I hope this helped you through your day.

 

I know what you mean, I never really felt influenced in a very great way by my family either. This is something that made it very difficult for me to find somebody to look up to, to be like.

But it does help to take the time and consider some things that maybe you might not've thought of. Like what values do you have that somebody may share? Who or what do you think of that helps you through your day? Maybe it's not even a person, but some thing or object with a strong sentimental value to yourself.

Please, take the time and consider these things. It's good to stop and smell the roses, right?

 

Not really influences, I've more got people I would love to be mentored by.

People like Mark Cuban, Jens Pulver, Mike Ness, James Hetfield, Kurt Angle, Napoleon Bonaparte (family lineage), Leif Errikson (family lineage again), and though fictional, Superman.