Shonda Rhimes has given us some of the best shows on television with some of our favorite characters. From Christina Yang to Olivia Pope, you have to admit that you tend to love these characters like they are your own friends.

She gave us the concept of "our person" and there really is no better way to describe your best friend.

The characters that she writes for are always genuine and relatable -- that's part of what makes us love them so much.

Even if we can't all be as fierce as Olivia Pope, at least we can dream.

Not only is Shonda Rhimes an amazing writer, she is just as strong and inspiring as the characters featured on her show. From the start of her career, she has never been one to give up on something that she truly believes in, even during the times when her opinion or idea is unpopular. After achieving success, nothing has changed that. In fact, she is using her spotlight to start up important conversations. Practically every show that she works on receives publicity revolving around the diversity featured on her programs. When asked by reporters and critics to explain why she is so invested in diversity she replied that she was simply trying to “normalize" television. Diversity, in her opinion shouldn't be something that is rare or unexpected, it shouldn't be strange to see a variety of people when the TV is turned on. In actuality, she knows that not everyone is the same ethnicity, the same gender, or sexuality. Shonda Rhimes is just crazy enough to believe that television should portray that. Basically, she is a real life gladiator.

Shonda Rhimes has broken our hearts over and over again.

Seriously, it feels like it happens every week.

Shonda Rhimes has also taught us some pretty important lessons and for that, Shonda, we thank you.