Recently I have been blessed to see through the eyes of my oldest son what this all really means. He had been in the “car scene” for years, traveling all around the world talking about his “friends” and cars and videos, and me, in my typical mother's responses were, should you really miss work? Is spending this amount of money smart? Don’t you want a real job where you get benefits, health insurance and all that adult stuff? 

He has talked about moving to Tennessee or down South for a long time and I just didn’t understand why he wanted to go. I had thoughts like, what about your family, what about your life here?....and so on and on these thoughts went. Finally I thought you know what, he is the oldest child and probably feels some sense of responsibility to stick around in case he is needed. His life changed after a relationship ended and he talked about going down South and I said “you know what Corey this is your time, you don’t have a lease, no relationships holding you here and you deserve to follow your dreams. Do it. Leave the job you are unhappy in and go”. I said this wondering if these people he spoke of would really hire him, did he really have a place to stay or is it something he was fantasizing about. You know what I mean, like we sometimes think things will be a certain way but in reality it is nothing like that. At least that is what MY fear was. 

My life took a weird turn as my son was getting ready to leave and I said “well, now if you need help I can come down with you” Now I said this, never understanding what this would look like, mean or even if he would want that. He instantly said “ oh that would be awesome if you could drive my car and I will drive the UHAUL”. Part of me thought oh crap what am I getting myself into and if he doesn’t work can I handle his heartbreak?. Well I jumped in. We left at 3:30 in the morning and drove straight through to Tennessee. We stopped to gas up, go to the bathroom and that is it. It was dark when we left, we watched the sun come up and move across the sky and go back down and arrived 18 hours after we left. We had packed lunches and snacks so we did not need to buy food.  

We arrived in Chattanooga Tennessee to a friend of Corey’s home. John Ludwick, BMX superstar, youtube star and master videographer, engraving genius, business minded influencer and podcaster. He lit up when he saw Corey and he showed us around and welcomed me with open arms. He talked about all the hopes he has with Corey being here, as part of his team. I stood back and I watched and listened to everything going on around him. Corey calmed down, relaxed and I could clearly see that this was exactly where he belonged. This was his world and his world was not something he made up. This world is amazing. Everything I didn’t understand about influencers or car people or podcasters I slowly began to see their world from inside of that world instead of from some out of touch place. I keept meeting more of the people in his world and I am humbled beyond words by what I am say. Influencers are not people who don’t want to work, that is for sure. There are some that do not rise to the level of what I have seen but this stage, this genre, this world my son has introduced me to is a world that words fall short of explaining. This is a beautiful family of talented people who work harder than I have ever seen. They are passionate and so passionate that it becomes intoxicating. Their minds are in constant motion trying to change the world in their own way. They want to share their love of what they do and show everyone that they can and do anything they set their mind to.

They don’t drink daily, smoke or do anything to harm their health. They start early in the morning and work until late at night. They are magic, they are inventors, engineers, teachers, students, artists, enthusiasts, motivators, electricians, welders, businessmen, and so many more descriptive words my mind doesn’t have the capacity to grasp. The family that they create through their passion actually brings me to tears. In a world that there are so many business people climbing on each other to move up, or people harming others because of their selfish beliefs, or so much of our society thinking that their beliefs are correct and everyone else's are wrong, in a world that is so selfishly cut throat, this family, this group of influencers could teach us a thing or two about what the world should really look like, and how to share in a passion and how to help each other, instead of hurting each other. It is astoundingly beautiful to witness. When I meet each person in my son's world I am honestly stunned beyond reason at the love and support that oozes out of them. The genuine respect and appreciation for each of their talents, and their differences, makes me feel like they have it right and the rest of the world needs to catch up! 

I am proud, I am humbled and I am in love with Corey’s other family. I know he is where he belongs and I just wonder what took him so long to get there. As you see an influencer, or whatever name you want to call them, stop, pay attention and understand that the short capture of what you see is not even three quarters of the work that goes behind it. If you pay attention and support them, sponsor them and share their information you can help these talented people thrive and survive doing what they love. And you can help them, help society see the amazing way to teach others that love really is the way to change lives. This world is a world that gives me hope and opens my eyes to a love that should be shared and understood by all. So when you see their merchandise, buy it, wear it and share everything you can to support them. If you don’t want to watch or listen to their videos or podcasts, share them anyway because they need to reach as many people as possible. They are a lesson to all of us!