HEROES AND WHY THEY MATTER
The term "hero" comes from the ancient Greeks. For them, a hero was a mortal who had done something so far beyond the normal scope of human experience that he left an immortal memory behind him when he died, and thus received worship like that due the gods.
Whether it's Woody from Toy Story, Marvel's Dark Knight, Superman and Wonder Woman from the D.C. Multiverse, or Hercules, the son of Zeus, they are all celebrated icons for societies, and even civilizations all over the world from time immemorial.
But one thing is for sure: Not all heroes wear capes.
Take for example, Mother Theresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, or Cristiano Ronaldo, each one of them has an incredible superpower. No, we aren't talking about flying through the air or X-ray vision, although the thought of Mother Theresa beating down a bunch of bad guys does leave room for desire.
But what each of them does have is the power to inspire by teaching us lessons of courage and bravery, by showing us that it is possible to preservere even when it seems utterly impossible, to show us that greatness can be found even in the smallest acts of generosity, kindness and friendship. They tell us that healing can begin even at the last breath. They help us find hope even when all hope seems lost.
The truth is, we don't need to go to Gotham City, or the planet Krypton to find our heroes. They walk amongst us, right here on Earth. They can be the EMT that saved someone's life after a tragic accident, or the ambulance driver that took them to the hospital. They can be your teacher who helped you during her lunch hour (like one of my professors did for a whole semester), or they can be the kid in school who stands up to a bully. They can be a friend who has always got your back, but also told you the bitter truths you may not want to hear, or your dad who will drive you and your friends to the movies and wait for you even on his day off.
We all have our heroes, and they all have a story.
We would like to share the stories of our heroes with you, and how they have truly changed our lives in deep and meaningful ways. Stories of how they continue to drive us forward each and every day, and how their actions will continue to inspire us to become the best versions of ourselves.
Here are their stories.
AUTOMOBILI LAMBORGHINI
One day, as 8 year-old me sat in the back seat of the car with my little brother, my mum sitting up front and my dad at the wheel, we stopped at a traffic light and I looked to the right to see outside the car window. I will never forget that moment.
I looked in awe at these six incredible looking machines that seemed to have wings. In colors of pearl white, lightning blue, bright yellow, deep red among others, I thought they were spaceships that descended from the heavens into this empty parking lot! My dad saw the amazement in my eyes and asked if I wanted to take a closer look. Of course I did! He swung a quick U-turn, and pulled up next to them. I jumped out of the car and my dad took my hand and we started walking towards them. We quickly came face to face with the young gentlemen that owned these spaceships. They were Saudi princes just taking their cars out for a spin. They greeted us warmly and my dad told them that I wanted to take a look at their cars.
They were extremely welcoming and one of them asked me if I wanted to sit in the drivers seat. I jumped in and was just amazed to see that this was a car! I remember the next moment as clear as day: He asked my dad if it was okay to take me on a little joy-ride. My dad asked me if I wanted to go, and with a cheek to cheek grin, I started screaming "Yes!" and started jumping in the drivers seat.
The beautiful yellow of this 1999 Lamborghini Diablo Super Veloce, the scary, almost deafening roar of the engine, and the sheer force with which it leaped forward was seared in my memory forever. It became my first true love.
As I grew up, I learned more and more about Lamborghini, its philosophy, its stories, the mindset of the people behind it, and the vision that drives them. Each one of their masterpieces is named after legendary fighting bulls. All these abstractions manifest themselves in the striking shades of color, the genius in their materials engineering, the sounds of the orchesta that plays from the engine, the intricate details in even the smallest elements, but most of all in the sheer bliss that is experienced when you find yourself behind the wheel of a Lamborghini. The hexagon in our design and the color of our font is an homage to Lamborghini.
There are many cars that can outrun a Lamborghini.
But, to me, Lamborghini is not a car.
It is child-like joy colliding with limitless passion, like two burning stars turning into a Supernova.
It is the drive not to exceed others, but to exceed yourself.
It is a song that is sung by your heart, not by your lips.
It is an indestructible mindset.
It is compassion, kindness, and humility.
Lamborghini is not a car.
It is an emotion that has yet to be named.
DOGS
We love animals! Especially dogs! They are a part of the Phamily!
Dogs bring immense, indescribable, and immeasureable joy to all our lives. Their loyalty is legendary, their love is unconditional and knows no bounds, they are fierce guardians of their families and will lay down their own lives in an instant to protect them. They help guide those that do not have the gift of sight, and provide love and companionship for those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they keep us safe by sniffing out out drugs and explosives and guard our families and homes when we can't. They have saved children from burning buildings, and pulled people out from underneath snow and ice.
They are truly mans best friend.
These are just a few stories of amazing dogs that have exhibited bravery, loyalty, and friendship.
Layka The Hero Military Dog.
Despite getting shot four times by an AK-47 at point blank range, she still attacked and subdued the insurgent who was attacking her handler. She survived a 7 hour surgery and was recently awarded a medal for her heroism.
Good girl Layka!
A man who broke his neck outdoors in freezing conditions survived lying in snow for nearly 24 hours thanks to his dog, who kept him warm through the night and barked for help. Kelsey, five-year-old Golden Retriever, kept him warm by lying on top of him, and kept him awake by licking his hands and face.
Good girl Kelsey!
An 8 month old puppy Geo saved Charlie Riley from being hit by a truck by pushing the boy out of the way and getting hit and run over instead.
Good boy Geo!
Chako saved his owner from an abusive partner who threatened her with a knife, taking 12 stab wounds.
Good boy Chako!
University of Illinois awarded an Honorary Master's Degree to Hero, a service dog who attended each one of his owner's classes.
Good boy Hero!
Our fight against animal cruelty:
The Phamily stands firmly against animal cruelty and aims to bring awareness about the lack of animal cruelty laws in Turkey. With brutal incidences of animal cruelty, such as #doraicinadalet, going unpunished, it is imperative that we take a stronger stance for our furry friends.
No matter who you are, or what you do, your dog thinks that you are greatest thing in the world. With such great power comes great responsibility:
Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.