Who Do You Look Up To?

[phee]

What people do you emulate? Who are your role models? Who has done things that you find amazing?

[Msterbeau]

My children.

[jadnifer]

Whenever I am asked this question it is always the same two people. One I have met and the other passed on before I was born.

My aunt has a personality where she doesn't take any crap from people and is able to stand up for herself in whatever situation presents itself to her. She is raising three beautiful children and they are very polite due to her. She has many talents and is always moving around and doing something. She always seems to be on the move. The reason that I look up to her is because I learned to stand up for myself from her. I hope to someday be able to raise children the way that she did.

My uncle passed away before I was born. The reason that I look up to him is because he had Muscular Dystrophy and he never let his disease get to him or let it depress him. He was confined to a wheelchair and never once complained about it. He went to school and when he wasn't physically able to go anymore, he had a radio (kinda like a baby intercom) that he could attend class that way. He was very artistic. He could draw cars and buildings and such. He loved to play Monopoly. (I do too!) My grandma says that we had a lot in common. I wish that I could have met him. There are so many questions that I would like to ask him. The reason that I look up to him is because he had a debilitating disease, but he kept a smile on his face and lived his life to the best of his ability. Whenever things seem to get difficult for me, I try to think of my uncle and it seems to help me get through it. Even though he died when he was 19, the memory of him and his life will live on as long as his family remembers him.

[odims_sphere]

My dad can fix and/or build just about anything. I guess I'd say him.

[CandyQuackenbush]

I'd have to say both parents.

My dad:

Because he was a Fire Chief when I was a kid, so I got to play around the fire house with my sister. And he's just like my other dad, who is Odims's dad, he can fix/ do just about anything.

My mom:

She taught me how to cook. Taught me how a garden should look and be taken care of.

Both my mom and dad together:

Because even though they have a hard time adjusting to my lifestyle, they wouldn't have me and my life any other way.

[jadnifer]

I guess when I really think about it...everyone that I am close to I look up to for a different reason.

I also definitely look up to my little sisters. I look at them going through some of the same things that I went through and I'm just amazed at how they get through it.

[Rayne]

I know this isn't going to be a popular answer - but no one. Phee asked me here at home tonight. He tried to help me figure out anyone ... But I don't. It's not that I don't feel passionate about things ... Just no one in particular.

[EAF (1)]

My friend Jairus Benjamin Benson who taught me to hold onto hope and that things can always be worse...

[Gaf The Horse With Tears]

My Father. Gayus E. Frost (grandma didn't know how to spell Gaius)

My Father was the most amazing person I have ever met. He was to the outside world, a loud and friendly cowboy, who you did not piss off. Ever seen that 1950's TV serial Superman? My dad looked enough like that guy, that people on the street mistook him for that guy. When I was a little kid, I really thought my Dad was superman. When I was little, one night on top of the #2 Crude unit.. his wrench broke, Dad stumbled back and rolled over the rail. He fell 136 feet to a cat walk. He got up, climbed down the ladder another 50 feet to the ground. Walk out of the refinery to his car and drove to the hospital. He broke his back in the fall. Something like that... does something to the mind of a small child. It never really goes away. My Father taught me how to fix things. To build things. How to control my rage. My Father taught me to treat everyone as an equal until they prove themselves to be something else. I was 18 before my Dad would talk to me about his Spiritual side at all. I was shocked to find out he was Buddhist. My Father did on the other hand expose me to religion my whole life. Even came to my pagants on Christmas eve at the Church I went to. The part of my Dad that I saw, that very few others saw, was that he was a Romantic. Cheesy as all hell mushy Romantic. My Dad made me who I am.

[CountdownToBreakdown]

I have a lot of people I look up to.

As far as celebrity/well-known figures I'd have to say:

--Matthew Lush

--Jeffree Star

--Davey Havok

--Jade Puget

--Marilyn Manson

--Irene Ryan

--Buddy Ebson

--Criss Angel

--many more.....

But as far as people I know, I look up to my "adopted"-brother/cousin/best friend Shane.

He's been here for me through so much and I really don't know what I'd do without him. When I'm around him, I'm comfortable and I can be myself. I don't have to hide anything near him. He kinda brings out my true personality.

He taught me how to literally survive high school my freshman year.

The best times I have with him are when I can stay the night at his house and we can talk and watch movies and cuddle. He knows I love cuddles. When I cry he just lets me know everything's okay, and I know he'd never let anything bad happen to me. I've been hurt a lot emotionally, and physically, and Shane has been my support.

One person told us we're obsessed, but we're not. We're just close.

Shane will ALWAYS be the first guy in my life, no matter who I fall in love with, because a best friend like him can't be replaced.

I just hope someday to make him proud and repay all he's done for me.

I love you Shane-y!

[Troy Spiral (13)]

Having the standard "good parents" i defiantly look up to them, and owe them a lot. I think most all of us that have had good upbringings should give our parents more credit than we might otherwise. In my case particularly also both of my grandparents on my mothers side had very good qualities that i look up to.

Beyond that people that standard "my family" answer:

I think had very good qualities (and of course flaws as well) and did a lot of good for the world and deserve to be viewed as positive influences for all of us even if we dont have a clue who they are or what they did or what their insights into humanity where:

Ken Burns

Carl Sagan

Richard Dawkins

Sam Harris

Victor Frankel

Steven Covey

Dale Carnegie

Brian Greene

Neil Tyson

Leonardo Da Vinci

Issac Newton

James Madison

Thomas Jefferson

Ayn Rand

George Washington

Benjamin Franklin

Are just some of the names that come to mind. Entertainers have their place, but i don't really "look up" to them as such we need more curiosity about the real, wonderful (and stranger than fiction) universe we live in for the betterment of mankind. The addiction to fantasy is not something I'd want to encourage or emulate. People like Ray Bradbury, Neil Stephenson, Shakespeare, Edgar Allen Poe, Sylvia Plath, William Gibson, Trent Reznor, Neil Gaiman and such i admire but don't really "look up to" per se.

[GothicRavenGoddess (3)]

he had a debilitating disease, but he kept a smile on his face and lived his life to the best of his ability.

HEY! that sounds kinda familiar...

~~~~~~~~~~

The people that i look up to:

In general, any human that i have encountered that has been faced with any form of obstacle, and overcame(?) it.... :coughdbkcough:

~~~~~

My mom.... i know that's so cliche or whatever, but its true. me and her have never gotten along, and i may not have liked some or most of her decisions, in regards to me, BUT i have always admired her strength, and her inability to back down from her beliefs. She has taught me that if you don't stand up for yourself, people will always knock you down and walk all over you.

~~~~

My Grandmother... that's my mom's mom.... she lived through an emotionally abusive relationship (yes, my grandfather, RIP) and came out on top. She raised 3 children, into magnificent women, whom i love and admire. She is a great human being, and if one could live off love, she'd make a great power source. She has a huge and kind heart, but she knows when to lay the law down. I love her dearly, and when she goes, the world will never look the same.

~~~~

My friend Heather. I went to school with her. she spent her entire life hated by her family, simply because her mother is a whore, and her father is Mexican. constantly told that she is ugly, stupid, worthless, and a lot of other horribly worse names, and abused physically (not sexually, thank g-d!) A person with less than iron will would have ended it years ago. She is still alive, and is successful in anything that she puts her mind to, to spite those that wish to see her fail. She is the most beautiful girl i have ever met, both physically and emotionally. She is the foundation that has inspired me to view my life differently, to see the heart and soul of a person, not just their physical body. I love that girl like she is family, and i cant wait to see her blossom further into adult hood....(she's 5 years younger than me) I am so proud of that girl!

[freydis]

My Grandma.

She lived what she believed. She was one of the kindest, most easygoing people I've ever known. She always gave people the benefit of the doubt, or a second chance. She also gave a lot to her community, but never wanted any recognition for it (the one time her church tried to recognise her for donations and service, she got kinda mad. She didnt do it for recognition, and didnt want it). She always had a kind word for everyone, and knew just when to crack a joke (and you'd be surprised at some of the things that old lady got away with saying). She gave every minute she could to her grandkids.

I miss her.

I hope I can be even half the person she was.

[Shade Everdark]

I look up to my girlfriend when she wears platforms. Not a bad view. I can't believe no one made that joke yet.

As to the topic at hand:

It may sound cliche, but I look up to Albert Einstein. Not because of his vaunted intelligence, but because he had the dedication and drive to use it in the way that suited him (writing his first theories while a patent clerk, blah blah blah). Also, when the time for choice came, he made the right one. He refused to use his unique gifts to aid the Nazis. There's a lot to be said for that.

There's also Lucretius. Here was a man who had the vision, over two thousand years ago, to see that everything is composed of 'immutable' very small quanta of matter. Here is the man, two thousand years in the making, who gave the world the concept of the atom. He also advocated that people live their lives as if the gods did not exist; he believed in them, but thought that living lives of compassion and help for each other was more effective worship than sacrifices and rituals. There's a lot to be said for that.

[Hellion]

The one and only person that canmake me laugh at everything thats wrong

[JaneDead]

I look up to my girlfriend when she wears platforms. Not a bad view. I can't believe no one made that joke yet.

well, i was about to but just saw you did. and i was going to say my boyfriend, not girlfriend, and he has never been known to wear platforms. he's just almost 6'3 and i'm 5'3

but seriously i'd have to say no one. i can't think of anyone i have ever looked up to. i guess that says a lot about the role models in my life.

[Fierce Critter]

First and foremost, my parents.

Then close 2nd, if not equal, my sisters. Each of them has a particular talent or knack, and grasp of common sense that they're just amazing to me.

Though I'm not a practicing Christian beyond leaning toward returning to my Catholic roots, I admire Jesus, or at least the myth of Jesus. Real or not, worshipped or not, the actions & words that are attributed to him are admirable.

[Steven]

Caleb, for the stand he took.

Yeshuah, for the questions he asked

Saul, for the courage to become Paul

Rocky Barra, a man of amazing consistency.

[creatureofthenyte]

I look up to anyone who's taller then me, because, unless they are sitting down, I pretty much don't have a choice in the matter.

[Head Wreck]

my dad. henry rollins, gibbs, mcguyver