I get tired of the hyperbole so common in the media today, particularly when it comes to their descriptions of sports stars, actors and others in popular news. I have heard too often a high-scoring player referred to as a “hero.” And then they need to up the ante when they are faced with someone who actually does good in the world, who takes risks to help others, who is true to their values, who dies in order to protect others from harm.
Our children take what the media says seriously, and begin to emulate the non-heros. They feel as if they can never measure up to the unrealistic expectations, and they miss out on forming strong relationships in the rush to be “better than.”
True heros are not “better than” other people, they are just people. People who do amazing things in big ways or small. From the spectacularly visible work of women like Fawzia Koofi to the quiet work of people who go into dangerous neighborhoods to locate and protect children in danger, to the reluctant hero who in the moment makes a decision to do something dangerous to help another, heros take advantage of opportunities to make a difference. Many people in the public eye are doing difficult work, and good work, but are not heros. Many people who work daily at simple tasks are.
Sports “heros?” Not usually. Just highly visible people who make a lot of money until they use up their bodies.
Actor “heros?” Rarely. Recognizable, and often involved in a high-profile cause or another, but only as long as it gets them attention.
Daily heros? Many — from the parents and grandparents and other relatives who work long hours and come home tired but still have time for the kids. Teachers, firefighters, police, nurses, doctors and others who have complicated jobs and do them faithfully, year after year, never knowing how far their reach extends. They show us how to live good lives, no mean feat today.
Other heroes, like war heros and people who save others from drowning or fire, those show us all how to face our fears, face death and come out triumphant.
What is a hero? Heros are not perfect — and do not need to be. A hero is someone who demonstrates the best that humans can be at some point. A person who can, with one action, remind us all of our potential.
It’s father’s day. In the United States, people are having barbecues, parties and celebrations in honor of their fathers — and those who stand in for absent fathers. The dads who have been there for their families… daily heros. Celebrate the loving caregivers in your lives today.
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