Looking back on this year, I must admit it has turned out differently than I expected. I’m an Aquarius, really deep down in my soul Aquarius, which means I live in the future. My life plan is way past that curve in the road that is far out of sight. Changing paths, changing my mind, and just stopping mid-stream to regroup are strategies I use regularly, to the dismay of many people in my life who just can’t keep up. Now you would think these two approaches would conflict, but not in my mind!

So, along the path this year, I’ve connected with some people who have become my heroes. The two I want to share with you today are directly related to me stepping out of my comfort zone and trusting the Universe that I was in that place at the right moment.

First is my friend, Gabrielle, who is my hero because she embraces her uniqueness. I met her through another friend, who introduced us because we had vintage clothing in common. I had a wealth of true vintage lingerie for sale, and Gabrielle appreciates beautiful vintage fashions. She also knows the value of this type of thing and where to sell it, should you want to part with it.

What has made Gabrielle a hero to me is that she has faced demons in her life, and has come out the other side to tell the tale. She spent many years on the Renaissance circuit, dressed as a wench, selling ladies under-things, and playing the role like the pro she is. These days, she has a cute home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, where she occasionally hosts visitors in her Gypsy Wagon or Hacienda overnight. Always shifting decor, moving, lighting, dramatizing the fantasy of the setting, Gabrielle invents a new adventure from the every day. If your path leads you her way, take the time to stop in and check out her version of the “Floyd Experience.”

My other hero is Louise of Thirty Something Bride. She is still experiencing the transition of single to married life, love and how to make it work, and how to still be herself. We met while I was selling vintage stuff in Charlotte, North Carolina, shedding much of my past to grasp a fresh future. Louise can see through the dust and age of long boxed up and discolored things, and is able to turn pieces of the past in to works of art that become treasured pieces of life’s memorable occasions. The thing that makes her my hero is that she  is not only a talented seamstress, but that she is also a word maestro! She has taken her blog, talking about beautiful people, places and things, and created a masterpiece of visual and written excellence. Every visit to her blog takes me deeper into a shimmering world where people carefully craft and celebrate the moments of life that have meaning.

These two women are very different. They have both added a much needed and unexpected texture to my life that I truly enjoy. This is why they are my heroes. I didn’t see them coming on the path. I didn’t dodge them because they were different than the people I usually connect with, or seek out. I embraced how different we were to each other and embraced the experience. And now, looking back, I’m so grateful.

Is there anyone that has been a hero in your life this year? Is there any experience that pushed you out of your comfort zone and shifted your thinking? Share your comments here and explore how 2011 has evolved for you!