Everyone is looking for a hero. Someone that they can look up to for support and motivation. I can think of two people right off the top of my head who I consider heroes. The first is my wife , Angela. We have been married to each other for over 31 years. She has stuck with me through good and bad times. She doesn't bitch, belly ache or complain at me or circumstances that are going on in her life. She endures arthritis in her joints while she takes care of her husband, teenage son, cleaning of house, cooking meals. etc. She also keeps our two grandchildren, who are 20 months old and 5 months old during the day. She communicates constantly with our two grown children, their husbands and our teenage son by phone or in person. She always wants to know what's going on in their lives. She is certainly the glue that holds our family together. She is an excellent cook, wife , parent and grandparent. She made a choice a long time ago. That choice is not based on how she feels physically or mentally today. That choice is I am going to love my husband, children, son-in-laws, grandchildren with all my heart. Whatever it takes , I am going to invest in their lives, be there as a sounding board when they want to talk, and do everything in my power  to help them . My wife's "Actions speak so Loud, I don't hear a word she is saying". In other words, she motivates and inspires through her actions. Words can be  cheap and sometimes  worthless. My wife speaks volumes with her actions. I know where her heart is. She is my mentor in teaching me how to build strong relationships. When  I get selfish and want  to think " It's all about me" , sometimes wanting to feel sorry for myself, I look to my hero, my wife for Clarity.  There is no question you've got to take time for yourself. But, to be a hero, you have got to give of yourself to others. My wife is truly a Hero.                                                                               

The next hero in my life is my father. He is 82 years old and in great health. He retired from his business at the young age of 80. He has a 7th grade education and has had 6 patents in the Washington, D.C. office. He has a tremendous positive attitude. He never gives up or quits. I will never forget as a child , my dad would get up early in the morning, get dressed and walk in the dark down the paved road in our neighborhood for his daily exercise. I thought that he was crazy getting up at 6:00 am to go walking. He made a believer out of me. He still walks everyday and it has paid off for him. He showed me by example how to work. He always provided for us and never complained about working. He was committed to his family. We never went hungry. We were not rich, in fact we didn't have a bathtub or shower until he built our new home in 1969. Prior to that , we took baths in a wash tub and used the bathroom outside in an Out House. A lot of people have no idea what an out house is. I thank God for bathrooms. That is all I am going to say on the subject. He taught me the value of honesty, hard work, committment and how to treat everyone fairly. My dad loved everyone. He never met a stranger. I try to live my life the same way, whether it be in business or personally.  I admit I have a lot of flaws, but one thing I have tried to consistently do my entire life , which I learned from my father, is Make People Feel Important, And Treat Them With Respect. I can say my father made me feel important. He is truly a Hero.