Silent Heroes

How do you define a hero?

In early Greek times heroes were godlike men and women who performed amazing acts that no normal human could do. Interestingly enough Hero was also the name of a priestess (yes, a female one) who drowned herself after her lover drowned while swimming to see her.  

Today heroes are defined in much the same way. Our military men and women are heroes, they willingly put themselves in harm’s way to defend our way of life and protect people around the world from evil. The same can be said for our police force, fire fighters, EMT’s, etc. They are heroes and very visible ones, all of them display courage and selflessness at some point or another.

There are quieter heroes out there that many don’t often recognize. Chances are they don’t even recognize themselves as anything exceptional. But ask anyone whose life they have touched and possibly changed and see what they say. There is the teacher who believes in a young student who everyone else has given up on. There is the neighbor who sees something unusual at the widow’s house next door and takes time out of their day to check up on her. The counselor who refuses to give up on a client no matter how much she pushes away his advice and denies the problems he brings to light. The friend that reaches out to just say hello instead of giving up on someone they haven’t seen for a while.

The thing I see is that heroes don’t have to be larger than life to be true heroes. Heroes are people who look beyond themselves to help others. They are your friends, your co-workers, even the stranger next to you at the gym. Heroes are everywhere and they do what makes them heroes because they can, because they want to. They do it for themselves and to help others, not to be seen as a hero. They care and are willing to help. That is what makes them heroes in my book.

So to all of those unsung and unseen heroes in my life this is my Thank You. Thank you for all you have done for me and everyone else. You may not have the high profile recognition that the heroes of old received, but that doesn’t mean you are not just as, if not more, important in all of our lives.