Heroes

I'm not sure why, but when I find that I truly respect and care for a person it has to do with a few things.

It really just boils down to Authenticity, Kindness, and Humor. 

People may have their different definitions of what it means to be a Hero and who fits

That mold.

Let's be real, Mothers as a whole are Heroes, so they already qualify and should automatically be Heroes.

I know many people out there that either don't have mothers or don't have good ones. 

I am extremely lucky to have a mother who seriously needs to be

Canonized as a Saint.

 I thought about it recently, and not sure why, but I listed my top 5 heroes in my head.

I felt that it was exactly what fits my mold of what it is to be a Hero.

These are Heroes to me personally and also should be to others!

So to start off.....

      1. Calvin and Hobbes (They count as one)

So a little background history. When I was in the 3rd grade there were the book orders (The Glory Days)

Given to us and I saw this spiky haired little kid and wanted that "book."

So I got it and realized it was a comic. 

I loved it and over the years collected every single one. 

It became a special thing to me.

To this day I still have them and even collected the special edition ones.

Calvin and Hobbes, for those who don't know about it, 

Is about a boy named Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes. Hobbes isn't real but his imagination brings him to life.

Calvin is wild and zany and Hobbes acts as his friend and his adviser to things about life and adventures.

They together offer the team of a lifetime. Kind and adventurous are the two things these guys showed me growing up by teaching me to imagine, have fun and be a goof.

Still love these guys today. They helped shape me believe it or not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_Hobbes

2. Homer Simpson

Yes. Really.

Again around the time I was 8-9 years old I fell in love with the Simpsons. 

I don't know what it is about cartoons and animation, but Homer stood out to me. Funny as hell and that Overweight American father, he was a great example to me.

I'm serious.

People always thought Homer was a goof and a fat fool, but really he was a loving husband, father, and Loved his family and always ended up doing the right thing. 

Homer is an American Icon to me and represents that balance between being a complete 

Fool, Father, and Funny Guy.

I really do love this fake creation.

Thanks Homer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homer_Simpson

***At this point people probably think I'm crazy because these Heroes aren't real! But here you go...

3. John Dehlin

So many have no idea who the eff this guy is. I didn't know about him until about 2 years ago or so. 

In a nut shell John is a Mormon, well an ex-Mormon I would say, but he is a HUGE ally for LGBT

Members. 

What struck me about John was how genuine he was and how much he really cared.

He is not gay. Nor does he have a gay child. No incentive.

Just an average all American guy that has one of the biggest hearts I have come across. 

He has a podcast that is mainly targeted for Mormons to listen to to be open and have discussions about Topics.

He just promotes kindness and understanding. No political agenda or personal gain from this. That 

To me was something that made him a Hero to me because he is just trying to be kind

And loving for those who may feel isolated or alone.

He really is a great person and here is a link to his TED Talk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MxCXjfAunk

4. Ellen DeGeneres

So this is a new addition.

Late at night one evening I was on YouTube and saw some Ellen Clips of her with little kids.

There was one of a little boy named Kai and he sang to her a Bruno Mars song.

The cutest thing ever I kid you not.

So one thing lead to another and I saw all her clips with kids, teachers, heroes, etc.

And through each of these I quickly came to see how funny Ellen is and also how kind she 

Is. 

So giving and tries to make people happy through her awkward dancing and funny antics on the show.

Plus I have a major crush on her DJ Stitch. Ha.

I love how she has comments disabled whenever children are in the clip because we 

All know there are those assholes out there who love to give their negative opinion on YouTube.

But one thing I noticed and that stuck with me when watching her show was that

At the end of each episode she would always say the line,

"Be Kind to One Another."

I had never heard that from a show on TV really. And I thought more and more about that,

She is simply trying to spread kindness ultimately and make people's lives better.

Through laughter and cheesy dancing, she promotes good in the world.

That to me is a Hero.

Here is that first video I saw of Ellen on YouTube

(When the little boy grabs her hand...I DIED haha).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTEDgV-Wcc0

5. My Mother

Duh! No explanation needed there.

BE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER

:) 

Now What?

Usually when I start a blog I try to have a theme of some kind, but honestly today is going

To be a random one mixed together with music, links, and thoughts.

First off, I noticed that I had started this blog (or complete collection of foolishness) about 

A year ago.

So happy anniversary blog!

Speaking of accomplishments, I finished college yesterday.

I walked out of my last final and was like,

"NOW WHAT??"

I sent that to my cousin and she jokingly sent me back

Get a Life.

What's that?......

Her name is LaRee but I have her as LuhIdiot in my phone (Fellow Fools)

So remember when people use to make mix tapes or burn CDs?

Oh those were the days right?

Well in this digital age I came up with a playlist of Cheesy Love Songs! 

These are my cliche songs that I like as of now.

Here is the playlist with links to the songs

I'm Yours by Alessia Cara

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3tgV5Uoduo

Just a Kiss by Lady Antebellum

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_yTphvyiPU

All I Ask Of You   by  Josh Groban & Kelly Clarkson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpA511j_-5I

Have You Ever Been In Love  by Celine Dion

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOwcmx2-wuM

And...

Bright    by    Echosmith

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8l5nMCJKyYY

Listen to them! 

I am a secret Hopeless Romantic 

Don't tell anyone.

I've been travelling down to SoCal lately and I got to say I have gone on some awesome hikes

So beautiful.

I love being outside more and more. I get these cravings to explore and travel when I do things like hiking 

And seeing the amazingness that is motha nature. 

If you look close that's LA in the distance. Picture doesn't do this view justice.

Well this has been a sufficiently random post.

I'm going strong.

Be Kind To One Another!!

-Ellen DeGeneres 

That Inner Voice

For those of you who know me well, I was raised Mormon.

To the general knowledge of the public a cascade of assumptions and imagery 

Can come to mind when thinking of Mormons.

Polygamy (not practiced anymore), Missionaries, Big Families, Joe Smith, and many more.

I've never really declared publicly my religious affiliations and beliefs, but

Currently, I do not practice Mormonism nor belief in it. 

However, I guess you could call me an optimistic agnostic.

Lately, I have been finding myself kind of obsessing about the history and dynamic of 

The church I grew up in.

The reason for this is because it is not just some kind of part time thing you do going

To church in the Mormon church and that's it.

It is a culture that is so deep and engulfs you that you really can't cut it off

Unless you plan to disassociate with family, friends, and others. 

So it gets brought up a lot. It is a part of my identity. I still hold on to some principles I learned

No matter how much doubt or complete lack of belief in the doctrine.

I know this probably sounds like a bashing post ready to join the ranks of many ex-Mormons

Or cliche millennial college students, but I actually have been observing and seeing some changes and

Discourse occurring in the Mormon church that relates to me.

It has been nice to see the goodness in people who call out certain teachings or policies

That don't stand for what Mormonism, or even Christianity, is all about.

I know I know, who am I to hold something I don't really believe in to some standard, but honestly

Like I said it is a part of my life in many ways and is a part of my identity that I can't just pretend it isn't there.

The policy I am talking about, and what has created some waves, is in these links....

(I decided to put multiple sources so it comes across fair)

http://mormonsandgays.org/

(So this is the general outline how the Church is "suppose" to look at Gays, etc.)

But somehow they came up with this policy.....

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/14/us/mormons-set-to-quit-church-over-policy-on-gay-couples-and-their-children.html?_r=0

And...

https://www.lds.org/church/news/elder-christofferson-says-handbook-changes-regarding-same-sex-marriages-help-protect-children?lang=eng

And

http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2015/11/16/3722461/mormon-resignation-protest/

So I could be like many people and bash the church I grew up in and join the crowd of negative

Jeers and outbursts.

But instead, I have learned to simply live my life as best I can and to be a good example. 

Kick ass and prove people wrong through the goodness and happiness my life brings.

Life can get exhausting by feeling victimized and by complaining about how everything seems

To be up against me. 

But really, I have found that when I delve deep into myself and see who I am regardless of church,

Race, looks, money, class, etc. identities I really just look at who 

Ian Hansen

Is stripped to the core and through that I find I am happy because deep down is that Inner Voice

That tells me I am me. I am a good person who wants to 

Make life for myself and others happy and bring into this world as much as I can.

Shel Silverstein said it best,

Because really when you're gone what is the memory and story others

Will tell about you?

Your actions in life tell your story and I want mine to be one of good deeds and intentions

That is something that has been guiding me to live and take care of myself these days. 

I feel peaceful.

So while yes I grew up Mormon it is not something that makes me me and isn't something that 

I should be angry at if the Church makes me feel bad about myself, but really it's

Just me and that Inner Voice along the way

And when that voice tells me All Is Well

Then I can smile and be confident no matter what is going on around me.