Heroes are quite important for people to see and hear. Sometimes, though, the hero bubble gets burst and their humanity appears.
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In today’s culture, as well as in years gone by, heroes have played some type of role in how I comprehend the world.
One thing I have learned, though, is that heroes are quite human. Of course, I have a tendency to look up at someone, see what he or she is doing with their lives, and admire their accomplishments. Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with that at all.
When I forget that heroes are human, then I am setting myself up for disappointment.
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When I forget that heroes are human, then I am setting myself up for disappointment.
Heroes have staked their claim in history. Consider Rosa Parks, an African-American woman who said “No” when asked to move to the back of the bus during the days of segregation. She took a stand. Consider President John F. Kennedy, who had a dream of sending men to the moon. Consider Dr. Jonas Salk, who developed a vaccine against polio and saved many people’s lives.
Just don’t expect all of them to be perfect and squeaky clean because they are not. That is the bummer about heroes.
It does not mean that their stories should be lessened. Dean Smith, the vicar of college basketball at North Carolina, died on Saturday night. Smith left an incredible mark on many men’s lives, including Michael Jordan and Charlie Scott, yet his life beyond the hardwood was pretty incredible, too. A story here and there has popped out about how Smith would reach out to everyday people years after meeting them, stay connected with his former players, and take a stand within his own church on social issues that might not have put him the good graces of many. Smith is a hero who transcends bringing national championships to Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Heroes also come in young people, too. Look at Claire Tietgen, a 12-year-old girl out of Kansas who has taken her life of being bullied and turned it around to become an advocate against bullying. Look at kids in children’s hospitals all over the United States and around the world. They are heroes of resiliency, faith and an unquenchable desire to live.
Yet when I consider the question – ”Am I a hero?” – about me, I have to do some soul searching. Maybe I have to go on my own hero’s journey.
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Joseph Campbell, the famed mythologist whose “follow your bliss” wisdom has been grasped by millions, wrote “The Hero with a Thousand Faces” in 1949. According to Campbell, the hero’s journey is one taken by archetypal heroes found in world mythologies.
In his own words, Campbell wrote:
“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.”
This journey involves deep levels of transformation and change. Many circles of men’s and women’s work tap into Campbell’s mythological insights and use them as gateways for emotional breakthroughs.
Instead of looking outside for heroes, maybe now you have a great opportunity to look at the man or woman in the mirror and own it that you are a hero.
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To me, when you have an emotional breakthrough, then you have become a hero in a very wonderful way.
Instead of looking outside for heroes, maybe now you have a great opportunity to look at the man or woman in the mirror and own it that you are a hero. What you have been through in life helped get you to where you are today. The mere fact that you are reading these words, attempting to assimilate them within your mind and heart, is a test of your own resilience and willingness to grow.
Are you a hero?
Does it matter to you if you are one, or would you rather look up from the sidelines and be grateful to people that have paved a road for you to follow? Either way, if it works for you, then that’s super.
Yet, don’t you want to be a hero? I’m not talking about saving cats out of trees, snaring people from burning cars, leaping tall buildings in a single bound … you know what I mean. Being a hero does not have to be burdensome. In fact, it can come from a place of strength, wisdom and great change within you.
Can you grasp the greatness that is within you today? Are you willing to understand that heroism doesn’t have to be some huge, attention-getting matter?
Simply smiling, shaking someone’s hand, and listening with empathy are symbolic of being a hero. They are activities which get you out of your way and give something back to the world. Heroes want to give back.
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Maybe you are not cut out to be hero material. You might not see yourself in that way. You just want to live a good life, help a few people out, take care of your family, retire at a decent age, and have fun.
Those are trademarks of heroes, too. You don’t have to “save the world” or bring about drastic social changes in order to be one. Simply being the best possible man or woman to your family and friends is quite heroic. Maybe a child needs a parent to hold his or her hand when they cry, and you are there. Maybe a parent has reached an advanced age and suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, and you are there.
Consider yourself a hero today. Leave the cape and mask behind, though. Everyday heroes just show up for life and respond to its rhythms. Not perfectly, OK. And yes, being 50 years old simply means that I’ve gained a lot of experience from which to learn from daily. I don’t have all the answers. Heroes never really do.
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Photo: Rosa Parks/AP File