It feels like a blog homework kind of evening. So the assignment this week "Who is your hero" is easy for me to answer. Some of you know what I do for a living (I work at an industrial supply company managing the shipping and receiving department). What I probably haven't mentioned is that my brother owns the company. He's my brother, he's my boss and he's my hero. And he's also never going to read this so I'm not just kissing his ass lol.
I am the youngest of five siblings; four sisters and a brother. He's the oldest and certainly the most successful. Not just financially (although, yeah, he's doing really well for himself and his family) but he's just successful in life, I guess you could say. I've always looked up to him, even when we weren't very close. I've always thought of myself as the black sheep of the family. We've all made mistakes, of course, but I'm the one who has fucked up big time; I'm the former drug addict and alcoholic, I'm the one who served a little time, I'm the one who couldn't keep a job for awhile. But he's the one who's willing to give a guy like me a second chance. And a third, if necessary. He offered me the job knowing that though I had no experience with it, I'm capable of learning it. He loaned me the money to fix my car so I could get to work every day, knowing I'm good for it. It was a significant amount, too. And here I am, months later, not doing drugs or drinking (maybe a couple beers on Saturdays but that's it). I go to work every day and do the job the best I can because he's given me the chance to prove I can. Not everyone thought I could, but he saw something in me that they didn't and I'm eternally grateful to him. His confidence in me has helped my confidence in myself. And because of his confidence in me, I no longer feel like the black sheep. I'm more involved; I'm part of the family again.
And it's not just about me. He does things like this all the time, for countless people. He's a naturally caring guy, willing to put his own financial stability and general well being on the line if necessary to help someone else in need and that... well, that's something a hero does, in my mind. A hero cares and I don't know anyone who's more caring than my big brother.
I look forward to reading other people's homework. Excellent topic @missy and @rambo
