The world is filled with ordinary people doing ordinary things extraordinarily.

Like Jeff’s mother. Jeff is one of the owners at Calgary’s most creative wine shop, and my favourite  — Vine Arts. Jeff’s mother is a foster parent. He told me about her one day while I was in Vine Arts to pick up some libation. The pride and love in his voice was inspiring. Like my beautiful friends Bev and Larry Pettigrew, Jeff’s mother gives other children a chance at not just a ‘normal’ life, but at life itself. A chance they might never have had before. Jeff Jordan, who writes at, To My Children, If They are Listening, also makes a home for foster children, and he writes beautiful and amazing stories about his experiences. These giving  individuals open their homes and hearts to children who need a place to call home.

Foster parents are heroes.

I’ve never met Angela. Didn’t even know about her and her Project True initiative until my eldest daughter, Alexis, became involved in Project True — there’s only one YOU in TRUE.  Angela had an eating disorder. Six years after leaving a healing facility, she has started a not-for-profit to provide online assistance to those recovering from disorderly eating. What an amazing woman. Sharing her knowledge, inspiration and creating a safe and welcoming space for others to learn and grow is important to Angela and all those involved in the project.

Angela, Alexis and everyone else at Project True are heroes.

I ran into a former co-worker yesterday. He still works at the homeless shelter where I used to work, is working on his masters in social work and has a young child. He is busy. Another woman I know, after years of working in the not-for-profit sector has gone back to University to get her undergrad in social work and is also holding down a full-time job. Every year, the Calgary Counselling Centre where I am working as the Interim Director of Communications, provides graduate and post-graduate students the opportunity to obtain real-world learning and counselling experiences because the CEO Robbie Babins-Wagner, believes in creating a better world through creating ways for people to learn and grow and become all they are meant to be. And btw, Robbie obtained her Ph.D last year while working full-time at the Centre and teaching at the University.

Those who work and go back to University, who commit their lives to helping others, who lead not-for-profits and still find time to learn more and to share what they’ve learned by teaching others, are heroes. 

Who are your heroes? Have you celebrated anyone today?