This blog might be a bit sentimental, as yesterday was my first Father’s Day. I made a video about some of my thoughts as Citizen Prime. Take a look if you’d like. I hope that video gives you something to think about. This blog is really the next level down, or rather, some thoughts that didn’t translate well to video.
Like every person on the planet, I find fatherhood an interesting transition – you go from a “do-whatever-I-want” adult, to a “okay, now you really have responsibility” father. Father’s Day is a good day to reflect on that transition for us new dads, even superhero dads.
As Citizen Prime, I end up talking to a number of great people and others often leave me comments about what I say and do. It might be interesting to note that I really do consider each and every thought, good or bad. Sometimes I respond, sometimes I think it best not to, but occasionally one of them stays with me for a bit. This happened yesterday. An RLSH ally called JabbaJaw responded to my video and said, “As for our reasons for fighting the good fight, I've always looked at my son as one of primary points of motivation when it comes to making this a safer world for him to grow up in.” Very insightful and, I would hope, a fairly universal sentiment. Yet, people can’t really know what it means to be a father until they … know what it means to be a father.
See, it’s its own experience. It’s like tasting Salt. You really can’t describe it. You have to experience it. Or to put it better, an author named Kent Nerburn wrote, “Until you have a son of your own, you will never know the joy, the love beyond feeling that resonates in the heart of a father as he looks upon his son. You will never know the sense of honor that makes a man want to be more than he is and to pass something good and hopeful into the hands of his son. And you will never know the heartbreak of the fathers who are haunted by the personal demons that keep them from being the men they want their sons to be.” Pretty heady stuff, and every word of it is uncannily true.
This brings me to being Citizen Prime and father, at the same time. Prime consists of so many elements and as people take this RLSH thing in their own directions (some of which I’ve tried), I see a common thread as people mature and settle into it. That thread is positive action. Think about the journey of a community crusader like yin and yang. For those who have never really considered the Eastern concept of yin and yang (translated as earth and heaven), it describes two opposing and, cooperative halves of any one idea. To that point, while I primarily focus on the good mankind can do and the heroic impulses that lie inside each of us, others don the cape and cowl and focus on avenging wrongs and taking a bite out of crime. I think both aspects serve a greater purpose and we should all do a little of both.
I, myself, search for ways to address both elements. While my current mission as Citizen Prime would be hampered by more vigilante type activities, my alter ego does seek the “Yang” in the equation. For example, I’m making inroads with the local police to volunteer as a part time Citizen Officer. It’s a ironic direction, but a logical one for me, as people ask me, “Why don’t you just become a cop!?” To their point, police collar far more criminals that the RLSH community ever will. But my mission is different. The police are a cog in the wheel of justice. A brave, honorable cog but they enforce laws and capture crooks ... they don’t usually change hearts and minds. That’s my job, and I hope it’s yours.
This evening I was watching Bones while grabbing a quick bite. They started talking about Love being the only true revolutionary idea. It made me think that the concepts around Prime are like that. I strive to be that Yin in a world of Yang; that force through which, I believe, the world will be a better place. Violence usually begets violence, but Love, whether for a person, people or ideal, is a creative force, and I think it’s the Yin that will survive, long after our Yang exhausts itself in struggle. In fact, Yin, or Love, is the fuel of the fire inside the heart of true heroes. In fact, considering that Love created my son, I come to the inexorable conclusion that it was central in creating Citizen Prime.
So, when people give me “that look” and ask me why I’m doing this, I smile and think of my son. I think of my desire to be more than I am, for him, and I hope to pass onto him a world better than I found it. I also consider this my daily sacrament for the sins of my past, so that I can be a better man – for him. While all this culminates on Father’s Day, I guess, in my case, it should really be called Son’s Day because for me, it’s about preparing the way for him to lead a better life. So, happy Son’s Day, my boy. Happy Son’s Day.
Is it just me, or are there a lot of RLSH in Utah right now? Granted, there are a lot of people trying to crusade for causes through the country and world, but Utah seems to be a hotbed for some reason. Something to watch I think.
And with that observation in mind, its intersting to come back home. Given my take on this whole RLSH thing and my personal mission to make the world a more exciting and fun place to be, I let a number of people on to who I am and what I'm doing. Its integral to my goals, as a matter of fact. To this end, I was telling a friend of mine an interesting experience. I was telling him about the first time I went public as Citizen Prime.
When I go out as Prime, I always go out for a purpose. At the time, Chris Guardian and I were starting Worldwide Heroes Organization and I created some literature to get people interested and involved. Of course, being the inagural outting, I was scared out of my mind. I've always believed courage in not the absence of fear, however, but doing what must be done dispite its presence. Even so, that first night started with good omens though. I pulled up in my trademark (how it got that way, I'll never know) XTerra and the parking guy waved me through free of charge with a smile and a thumbs up. Preparing to head out, I was looking forward to engaging people, to prime the hero in others, but what would really happen, I had no idea.
Then I hit the street and what actually occured was beyond my imagining. Conversations with people, who were drunk and prepped for mischieve, turned them into friends watching my back and wishing me well. there were handshakes, pictures, and high fives. There were kids running across the street to scream their support. It was a good night. And it was one of those moments I was using as example to my friend. See, there is a bit of magic that happens and I can't even really explain it, Its larger than me but it works through me. It what happens when someone encounters Citizen Prime.
I think Prime takes people out of there mundane existence, if even for a moment. he lifts them out of the world they know and lands them in a place where superheroes (albeit without superhuman powers) exist on some level. It leaves them open to explore that part of themselves that they buried away a long time ago. The part that believes in the fantastic. And the conversations and encounters and moments that have happened since prove that to me. Thats what I was telling my friend anyway.
So, for me (and I speak only for myself) the power in this lies in inspiring others. In reminding people of what they already know. That is, that people can choose how to live and choosing to live heroically is a choice that human beings were meant for. People need to be treated with respect and, when that happens, that heroic mindset can seed the world.
And its that opportunity that Utah is representing for me and its coming into focus more and more. Finding ways to seed Salt Lake with Citizen Heroes - people who want to actively do good and who want to seek out opportunities to do it. I'm not just talking about fighting crime or preventing crime, but doing something more - creating a heroic lifestyle and commiting to live it everyday. I do it, best I can. I'll always say the first person Ciitzen Prime primed was me.
If you're looking for ways to exercise your heroic muscles, look no further than your neighborhood, your city, your world. Cape or no cape, you can inspire people. Live that heroic mindset and lift them out of their humdrum world to soemthing more exciting.
More next time on some of the Citizen Heroes plans coming together. We're taking steps and we've got a few things lined up already. Maybe a few of you can be a part.
Stay safe and stay heroes!
All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another. ~Anatole France
A “Change Expert” (yes, people actually have titles like these in the business world) told me once, “People only have so much change they can handle at one time. Some people have more, some less. Eventually, everyone kind of pauses and says, yea, that’s enough for now.”
I never really thought much about it as changes – big changes – seemed a part of my life. In fact, if I was not going through some sort of deep, life changing event, I was waiting for the next to occur.
Well, the next has occurred. Citizen Prime has moved to Utah.
See, I talk so much about living a life full of heroic essence and finding the joy in life, yet I found myself slowly pulled into a life of struggle and obsessive goals and objectives; ignoring, for a time, the best route to my message for myself and my family. And as I live each day for my wife and son, as well as myself, I find their happiness is critical. And they’re happiness – and mine, I discover each day – resides best in Utah.
Does this somehow affect the existence of Citizen Prime? Yes and no. I am always growing, I hope. And, at the same time, I hold solid to the values that I feel make this country and this life great. In fact, I’m rather proud of the fact that I am constantly searching for ways to make Citizen Prime relevant in our culture and send a message that people can become the hero in their own story.
Yet, along the way, there have been so many ruts to fall into. It’s almost as if (and maybe it is) I am being tested. Not that I am in the same ballpark as he, but a story comes to mind of Buddha as he was tempted by a series of worldly traps. He passed by each one successfully only to become more enlightened. In my own small way, I hope I am on a path that carries the same message. To evolve is to grow. I saw another quote that reminded me of this.
It is not necessary to change. Survival is not mandatory. ~W. Edwards Deming
So why Utah? Well, both my wife and I are from Utah. We have a great deal of family and many friends in Utah. And whether I’m Citizen Prime or not, my family always comes first – although I need reminding of that sometimes. As for Prime and The League of Citizen Heroes, there is much to do to establish a presence here in Utah. It’s a great time to apply some of the lessons I’ve learned over the last three years. I’m looking forward to the challenge of starting anew.
And we’re coming out swinging. A few people might remember the BlogTalkRadio show I hosted called, Are You Primed?. Well, we’re producing new episodes and they’ll be as informative and interesting as ever. I’ll be producing a weekly vlog, as well, sharing thoughts and lessons on how to live a heroic life. I got this idea as people were contacting me wanting to do more with there lives. People have always had challenges with perception and reality when it comes to what I do and what I stand for, so I thought I would discuss how I reconcile that desire to do good and keep my feet firmly planted in reality – a lofty goal indeed and I don’t always succeed!
And finally, I’m continuing this blog. My wonderful wife had an idea as we moved to Utah that, with the new reset of my mission here, to bring the hero out in everyone, she would start a blog chronicling our life going forward. I was so inspired by her idea that I committed to keep a blog myself. You can find her blog at http://wifeofasuperhero.blogspot.com.
There is much to do! And I dare say not just for myself. People contact me all the time asking how they can do Good in the world. I have some ideas but usually my advice is just refining things they already know and helping them rediscover the hero that society has buried underneath years of criticism, fear and scorn. So, as you read this blog, I challenge you, break out! Be the hero you were meant to be. Turn away from the things that you know are wrong and never look back. Yes, change is necessary. Sometimes, hard change and life balance through it all.
In my life, for example, in the last year, my wife and I had a baby, we got robbed, we moved states, I changed jobs, we lost three dear canine companions, I lost the Prime Armor in an airport (briefly), had an honorary patrol with both The Black Monday Society and Geist, and continued to build both The League of Citizen heroes, my “alter ego” career and, most importantly, keep my family safe, happy and whole. And that’s nothing compared to what other people have had to endure; people who have contacted me and shared their stories of good and bad. And you know what’s most amazing about those people. They don’t give up or give in. Those people still keep on looking to do Good and find Good in the world. I know, from all this, that people can handle much change.
As to that Change Expert’s advice. She may be right, but I know our limits are so far beyond what we think they are. It’s about staying in the groove, and moving forward.
Until next time, stay strong and stay heroes.
Tonight was the first show for Citizen Prime Time! and additionally for WHO Speaks!. Chris also has a show called The Chris Guardian Show.
I'll say it right out - this is a great concept. The Blog Talk Radio idea allows us to get out to pepople who are interested. Its very much to idea sharing what podcasts are to music and media sharing. Its allowing people to hear what they want and I think that's great.
Tonight's Show:
Tonight we introduced the concept of Citizen Prime to listeners who might not know about me. Some of my old Real LIfe Super Hero allies called in and showed their support, which was phenomenal.
Chris Guardian called in and we discussed some of the great aspirations of Worldwide Heroes Organization (WHO) and hopefully tthat gave people some food for thought and a place to go to connect with people trying to do good tings.
We discussed some real heroes out there and gave some guidance as to where people can go to learn more about real world heroes, such as www.cnn.com/heroes.
We discussed a number of things regluar, everyday citizens can do to be more heroic in their daily lives, such as look for opportunities to help people in need.
All in all, the inagural show went well. I'm excited that people are interested in celebrating the heroic. We'll definitely celebrate it with them as long as they'd like. A toast ... to heroes the world over!
I haven’t written an update in a while … and with good reason. I’ve been amazingly busy! Being done with the WWTBASH audition process is just …. so nice. I felt like I was holding my breath through the whole thing. Couldn’t do much. Didn’t want to spoil any chances. Now, I’m done with all that and I can finally get back to living the life I was meant to live. Its all part of the experience though. It was my path and I’m grateful for the things it taught me.
Now moving forward! I
have been trying to get more organized on so many fronts. Talk to anyone and I think you’ll find a pretty tight consensus; charity work saves
people and we are about saving people, so that is definitely part of the job.
I have been in touch with two children’s hospitals, an elementary school,
and a local March on Meth campaign. The
hospital seems to be coming to fruition quickest. One of my oldest friends is a doctor in child
psychology and she was invaluable in editing my script for the hospital. Who would have thought inspire was a big word
for kids?? She suggested we publish and
put it out there as a program. I told
her I know a lot of folks that would love to do this as a national gig. More to come on that.
As for freindly Citizen support patrols. I
have been seeking the best way to gain traction and I hit upon a
connection. I am stepping up my
Inspiration Campaign and being as public as possible. I visited a local dining/entertainment district
in the Inspirational costume and handed out “Who Is Citizen Prime” literature and glad handed at least 50
folks. Everyone loved it. Not a single person said or did anything
derogatory. Quite to the contrary. I got high fives, hand shakes, waves and two
offers (to which I responded, “Sorry, I’m married” of course!) It was also the night Channel 12 caught up
with me and followed me a round for my patrol.
Oh yea, I’ll be on Channel 12 Phoenix New on April 30th, right after Heroes. Yea, they thought it would get good ratings. We’ll see. Channel 3 is curious, as well but I’m trying not to put to much stock in it, except that it can certainly help the movement and certainly help people feel comfortable with our presence. That’s my incentive. Hopefully, every little bit helps.
Had an interesting incident last night. I was pulled over coming home. Yep, doing 34 in a 25 mph zone. I got chatting with
the officer, told him what I did and about the Citizen Patrols. He asked if I have any weapons. I said Bear Mace (technically that was the
only thing in the front). He laughed and
said I should join the Volunteer Deputy’s instead of inviting drug dealers to
pop a cap in me. They would train me in
armed response, stick me in a uniform for the
volunteer shifts, back me on calls and he said
they give you a marked car to drive.
I’m not sure I got all the details right because it sounded pretty
awesome in a lot of ways. I have a call
into them. Hey, I think I could do a lot
of good work during those shifts. Its not really what this heroic inspiration thing is about, but I’m
considering adding it to the gig. I’ll
keep you posted. By the way, I didn't get a ticket. Whew!
And all that on the real life side.
Still working to get the Webisodes going and working a deal for the comic side as well. Savage Pictures is on board as soon as we get a window of time, we’ll shoot the first episode(s). The comic artist in negotiations is … nah … I won’t jinx it. Lets just say, if this works out, Moon Knight and I will have a similar likeness. That’s the only clue I dare give out at this juncture.
And the pièce
de résistance is I am biting the bullet and having a website professionally built.
I t w i
l l b e
a w e s o m e !
And that’s been my March and April so far. So, trying to keep busy and trying to get things going. The news interview brought a great perspective. They had some hard questions. Questions we should all answer. But in the end, I’ll just say, its important to evolve. This is still a pioneering effort in my opinion. We have not perfected this gig, by any stretch of the imagination. And imagination is what its built on. Or I should say Inspiration. We should never forget that. After seeing so many people lit up simply by my walking down the street last night, I know I won’t forget it any time soon.
Stay safe and remember, inside all of you lives The Heart of a Hero. Exercise it well.
I’d like to share with you a portion of my audition video for Who Wants To Be A Superhero. For those who have not heard about it, I am auditioning and encourage you to do the same. Inspiration is our main job and this venue is an awesome opportunity to inspire others.
Before you watch this portion of my audition film, some discussion might make a few of you more at ease. First and foremost, those of you who know me will notice a distinct difference between the real Citizen Prime and the inspirational Citizen Prime in the film. The film highlights an inspirational concept for a super powered Citizen Prime and I’m completely over-the-top excited about sharing it with everyone. I look at it as a fantastic opportunity to give back to the inspirational genre that has clearly inspired me and so many of you. What this means is you will see a super powered Citizen Prime with powers that are hyperbole for my real life mission. In other words, while in this reality, I cannot find and prime actual superheroes, I hope, through these works to inspire others to live with The heart of a Hero and watch over their communities in a spirit of family, as we all are. Enjoy the film.
Phoenix Magazine Real Life Superhero Article
I’m just going to let the article speak for itself.
Auditioned for the show this last weekend. It was a lot of fun. There were about 30 people there on Saturday (I didn’t go back Sunday). The pictures were fun. I had all kinds of kids coming up and taking pictures with me and another fellow named Altima X. Very nice guy. In fact, everyone there was fantastic. I think everyone took a positive cue from last year’s show and seems pre-disposed to work together and encourage one another. It was very nice to see. Everyone shook hand and chatted like at a Comi-Con. Lots of fun.
The actual audition was pretty neat. They did it in conjunction with the WWE wrestling, presumable to split the production costs and as a conduit for traveling around to various cities. So half way through the wrestling mania stuff, they announced the superhero auditions. We had a captive audience – ha! – so one by one the contestants got up and did their spiel. I did okay, I think. Its hard to tell. So much was going on. I hit all my key components. I played the crowd. I played to the camera. I hope that and my application (double the original size, with Prime details) and the audition video gets their attention.
We’ll just have to wait and see, but at any rate, it was a lot of fun.
As a side note, getting lots of comments about the video. Everyone seems to be really excited about it. I’ll see if its okay to post it up on YouTube and the net, in general.
Mike and I had a mutual admiration contest on the phone tonight. We chatted about the film and how effortlessly (see, once again) everything came together. Tangent: This might be a little hindsight as we actually worked very hard putting it together, but things synergized together creating a greater whole than we provided parts. Maybe that is the life lesson here. Work as hard as you can as life gives you lead and there is no telling what you can accomplish.
The script and the editing fit together perfectly. My biggest fear is that the actual story of what he can do would be lost. I mean, I know it so well, is that blinding me to everyone else going, “What the hell?” Mike, my wife, and everyone who has seen it so far assures me this is not the case. Sidenote: Its very sad seeing my own narcissism in this way! I know its not actually perfect, but it looks that way to me. Kind of like a baby. You are just kind of adoring toward this new creation. You can watch it over and again while others grew bored with it long ago.
I’m going to auditions this weekend so I’m glad it all came together in time. It was kind of down to the wire, at that.
Mike and his partner Steve said this was the most exciting thing to come through Savage Pictures in a long time. Regardless of what happens with the show, they want to co produce webisodes of the character. Hey, I’m all for that. Of course, we have to see what happens with the show, but either way, I’m sure we can work out a plan. Very exciting stuff.
Oh my god. I just saw the film we made for WWTBASH. I knew we did a great job. I knew we hit everything. But … oh my god. We killed it. We squashed it. Knocked it outta the park. Oh my god.
Is it bad to be so overwhelmed by your own creation? Well, I’ll indulge since Mike Fox was at least equal part creator of the audition film. He made it look so ridiculously awesome. I’ll freak out about it and point at him. He made it look so damn good. There, humility crisis averted.
I sent him an email. I’ll have to chat with him tomorrow about it. Damn. I am going to make an impression, even if I don’t get into the show. Now, if I can just get them to see it
