If I stumbled into my hero ...

Do you ever wonder what you'd say if, while walking down the street, you crossed paths with some hero / anti-hero of yours? Based on experience, I'm assuming that I would say something less-than-ideal: “You are—just great! Can I kiss your head?” or “You're really mean to people—have you ever thought about being kind?”

But really, what do you say if you only have a moment in passing (assuming that you're not willing to trip them to squeeze out a few seconds of prep-time)? You don't want to be rude and monologue at them endlessly—nor say something trite that they've heard from at least five strangers every day that week. So here's me drafting—feel free to add your own heroes / anti-heroes to the list—just in case:

for Heroes ~~

Stephen Colbert 

 – “You are a curious, joyful, eloquent, and loving human being; you humble me.”

Pope Francis  

 – “Your loving example is a challenging gift for those who distrust religion's intent,
and for those who follow its dogma, alike. Thank you for championing faith's true, open spirit.”

Elizabeth Warren

 – “We need more teachers like you in D.C., making the walls transparent for this democracy.
Every time I see a clip of you online, I imagine a thousand people's hearts screaming,
'That's what I was feeling!'”

Bernie Sanders

 – “Every time you state a principle—explained in terms of simple, sensible, conscientious
actions—you make me feel younger, saner, more full of hope. You cool our nation's fever.”

Dalai Lama

 – “Your laughter is a seed that I carry in my chest. When I am sad, it reminds me that I
am also happy, and that I can place that joy on top like a warm, saturating light.”

Russell Brand

 – “You glow with purpose. I look forward to watching you age into a more and more refined
version of that fire.”

for Anti-heroes ~~

Bill O'Reilly

 – “Mister O'Reilly! The most confident, wise people I know talk to everyone as an equal
and show compassionate attention when they are presented with a challenge.”

Ted Cruz

 – “Eloquence can be used two ways: to find a common ground amidst factious voices and from there grow, or to re-shape the words of alternate voices until they seem like your view. One of these
nurtures love in society; the other, only dominance and resentment.”

assorted Corporate Decision-Makers for factory farms, NRA, oil/coal, etc.

 – “Money, in all its expressions of influence, is a place-holder: dynamic, unstable, and intrinsically worthless. This planet, in all its experiences of life, is equally dynamic and delicate—but arguably infinite in value. If you measured your legacy in terms of that life—quality, health, well-being—
in total, how much have you gained?”

Putin et al. dictatorial leader types 

 – “Hello, sir. I value my life; I have no intention of getting in your way.
One man's will means nothing.”