Striving to Become

When I was a kid, the people I most admired were my teachers. I thought they ruled the world. I wanted to become a teacher because I thought they were amazing.

As I grew older, I realized I was overlooking some of the most awesome people in my life: my parents. I took them for granted as a child, never even considering that the people I should most admire lived within my own home. My mother in particular taught me the values of kindness, consideration, integrity, hard work, responsibility, honesty.

Now that I am an adult, I try to put those attributes to work in my own life. I strive to be that kind of person that can be counted on.

Henry B. Eyring once said of his wife, Kathleen (and I'm paraphrasing because I can't find the exact quote--feel free to help me out if you know where it is!), that she was the kind of person who not only seemed to know when something was wrong, but was the first person there to try and fix it. Somehow everyone knew she could be relied upon, that she cared, that she would give freely of her time. She was a friend to all, trusted, and caring.

That is who I strive to be like. I hope by the time I reach a more advanced age that I will be the kind of person that shows up to help fix a problem. I hope I will have the empathy and selflessness required to give of myself that way. I want to be the one to comfort and soothe and care. I want to provide for people, whether it is temporal, spiritual, or emotional.

I don't know if I will ever be the kind of person my mother is or Henry B. Eyring's wife is. I fear I put too much priority on myself and things that I like to do. But that is my goal. That's who I want to be.

Who do you admire? Is there someone you want to be like?

Have a great 4th of July weekend! My video interview will run all day on the 4th and 5th. Catch it here and spread the word! I'm going to host a giveaway on Monday and Tuesday so start talking!!