Stand Up

I haven't posted in a couple of weeks, so I actually do have a few things to write about. Since all of them but one will require that I take a little time to organize my thoughts into coherent sentences, I'll do the easy one first, while it's timely.

Did any of you spend Thanksgiving night the way I did, feeling full from Thanksgiving dinner, happy from time spent laughing with people you love, then finally settling down in front of the TV to just bask in all those good feelings? If so, then maybe you, too, had your heart filled all the way up to the brim by watching "CNN Heroes."

I look forward to this show every year. The "heroes" inspire me deeply. They're everyday people who see a need and get busy filling it, regardless of personal sacrifices and obstacles they may encounter along the way.

When I typed the words "everyday people" above, I almost followed them by the phrase, "like you and me," but that would have been a lie. You might have their special kind of substance and character, but I know I don't have as much of the "right stuff" as they do. I wish I did.

Now, before you get the idea that I'm a total loser, let me defend myself. I think I'm capable of standing up for the underdog in scenarios such as those set up on ABC's "What Would You Do?" I probably have just enough gumption to take on one abusive boyfriend or binge-drinking airline pilot at a time.  But show me a problem like child slave trafficking or millions of African children with no light in their homes to study by, and I'm out of there. I'll feel very sad about it, but I'll go home and watch "American Idol" to get it off my mind.

Back to the "Heroes" show. After listening to the stories of all ten nominees, I was both shocked by the magnitude of the problems they have recognized and immensely inspired by the actions they've taken toward solving those problems. These are people who have seen for themselves how harsh the world can be, and when they smiled and even danced as they waved a "LOVE" flag during the final musical performance of the evening, I was moved to tears. I realized then that love is the key to the whole thing. Yes, these people have extraordinary amounts of courage and fortitude, but they do what they do because of their great love for humanity.

If you didn't see the special, watch the heroes wave the flag in the video below and listen to Sugarland sing "Stand Up." The song itself will make you want to be a better person.