What is a hero? (I’m using the term to mean men and women.) In movies or books, heroes are larger than life characters. Heroes rise to the challenge. They rescue those in distress. They save the day. In school, we’re taught about great people who did wondrous things. They explored continents, fought for freedom, founded nations.
In the aftermath and recent anniversary of 9/11, we heard a lot about heroes. Everyday people who helped others with no regard for their own safety. More recently, we heard about those who rushed to help people trapped under a collapsed stage at the Indiana State Fair. The consistent refrain when the media called these people heroes was “I was just doing my job” or “It was the right thing to do”.
Who are the everyday heroes? Police and fire rescue seem the most obvious. Their job is to serve and protect. They put their lives on the line every time they put on their uniforms. Thank goodness, they do. We’ve seen evidence of what happens without them in the chaos of the Middle East. Where individuals live in constant fear and/or have to arm themselves for protection.
What about the unsung heroes? The teachers who put up with lack of respect and often hazardous conditions yet have a tremendous influence on our children. Nurses who start out wanting to care for people and get bogged down in paperwork and given too many patients to oversee. The dad going to work each day, often giving up his own dreams to provide for his family. The mom who would rather stay home and raise her children but must leave them with others in order to provide. Everyday people just doing their jobs.
Skeptics will point out there are corrupt cops, bad teachers, lazy nurses. Sure. They are in the minority yet get the majority of the attention. Still, heroes are real people. They aren’t perfect. Even the founders of our country—supposedly, the heroes of our nation—had faults. In books, the flawed hero is often the most interesting.
Two of my heroes are teachers I had in high school. I wish I’d told those women how much they influenced my life before they died. In my bio, I write that I married my own hero. Maybe that sounds clichĂ©d or hokey. I’m a fiction writer. I write about heroes. But, I truly mean it. He’s not perfect. He just does what a hero does, his job. Every day. I don’t thank him enough for being a good provider, a terrific father, and a loving and supportive husband. Maybe his greatest feat has been putting up with me all these years. Thanks, sweetie.
So, who are the heroes in your life? Say thanks to them today.
My hero is my mom, a woman ahead of her time who sacrificed so I could have a better life. My heroes are those silent behind the scenes individuals who restore my power after a storm, change my flat tire in the dead of night, run after me because I left my wallet on the counter at the grocery. The teachers who stay after, my boss who takes leagl case where we won't any moeny but just because it's the right thing to do for someone who has no where else to go. They DO walk among us. Maybe we should all try to be them.
ReplyDeleteMy heroes are my mom and dad and grandmother. They lived through such adversity and personal tragedy, yet raised us with love and protected us from it all. You're right, I never told them how much their courage impressed me. Hats off to you, Mom, Pop, and Gramma!
ReplyDeleteWow. Thanks, guys.
ReplyDeleteSo many of us have had hero parents and grandparents. Some of us are lucky enough to have hero husbands like Diane.
ReplyDeleteI love to write about and read about the kind of heroes that Nancy, Diane, and Patricia mentioned.
All the best, Annette
Diane,
ReplyDeleteWell said. My favorite response, "It's the right thing to do." Operative words being TO DO.