heroes

When I asked my daughter what a hero was to her, she replied that they were someone who is a role model. When I asked my son, he said a hero is someone who is self sacrificing. The definition of a hero seems to change with the context of time, and it is very individual. I agree with my children, but would also like to add my own thoughts on the subject.

The first thing I think of when I think of a hero, is someone who has beaten the odds. That doesn't mean a person who wins the lottery is a hero. They are just lucky...REAL LUCKY! They simply beat the odds by sheer luck, without the use of any sense of character. A person who loses a leg to cancer and goes on to run across the country to raise money and awareness is truly a hero to me. They have beaten the odds by the use of strength, endurance, sacrifice, will power, discipline and the power of positive thought. All those things coming from personal character. A hero is one who faces and overcomes adversity and sometimes danger, from a position of weakness.

As my daughter says, people with this strong sense of character and integrity become role models and superb examples to others. They are people that we look up to and strive to follow, and we gain our own strengths by leaning on theirs. Through their actions, we receive strength to go on when faced with our own trials. Heroes are those that define courage and nobility, and blaze the trail for generations to come. It's important to mention here that showing courage does not always happen without fear. Harder still, a hero goes forward knowing that they are afraid, but does so anyways.

Ask a child what is a hero, and they will probably relay examples of fantasy figures; Zorro, Batman, Hercules. Children become very interested in legendary and fantasy figures because of the trials they overcome. Their heroes endure hardships, setbacks by villains, and dangers. They save one or many from worldly challenges through their actions of courage and selflessness. Heroes teach adults and children alike valuable lessons. To all of us, heroes are those that make a difference in the world, and leave a positive affect on us.

To me, heroes are defined not only by large selfless acts, but small ones too. Heroes are defined differently by everyone. A hero to one may be the lifeguard that saved their life while they were drowning. It could be the bus driver that drives your child to school, or a son or daughter fighting over in Afghanistan. It is easy to acknowledge and remember some heroes years and even generations after they are gone: Joan of Arc, Terry Fox, Martin Luther King, or George Washington. But we also need to realize that people are doing heroic acts all the time, every day, all over the world. People in impoverished countries striving to survive, and others caring for orphans in war torn countries, as well as those living with a terminal illness are in some ways, a hero to me. We rarely hear stories of these so called "small time heroes". If we do, it is only for a couple of days, and then we forget them. Aris Espinosa, for example was a 13 year old boy who died on Jan 30, 1994, after throwing his own body on top of a live grenade that was about to take the lives of his friends. Liz McCartney, who began a non profit organization that has rebuilt 120 homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina was another. Scott Silverman developed Second Chance, another non profit organization to help train and place people in jobs with the appropriate mental health support. These people are all examples of heroes making sacrifices and going forward with selflessness to better the lives of others.

Andy Rooney says that in war times there are ample opportunities to be a hero, but there isn't in times of peace. I disagree according to my own definition of what it takes to be a hero. The UBBT gives us a great opportunity to become heroes to someone every day. Through the numerous acts of kindness we lend a helping hand to others on a daily basis. I know of a man who was thinking about committing suicide, but because of a caring smile and a simple "how are you", given to him, decided that life was still worth living.

Whether we are young or old, somebody of high importance in a leadership position, or an ordinary citizen, we can all be a hero in our own way. Through selfless acts we can help others and do good deeds without expectations of payback or recognition. We can do it because it is the right thing to do and we're happy doing it.

To all those out there reading this and doing your own acts of heroism, whether large or small, I salute you. Together we can make a difference in our homes, our communities and in the world.