I have a Complex about Heroes - Not to be confused with my Hero-Complex!

You know that Bonnie Tyler song, "Holding out for a hero"? I don't think people know what a real hero is any more.  The most obvious heroes are those who act selflessly to help others - whether it is a Soldier or a Fireman, a Police Officer or an EMT, Nurses and Doctors, Teachers and Mentors... I hope you value those people in your life more than the manufactured inauthentic personalities that we are bombarded with beyond belief!

Do you think about your own heroes?  Who do you consider a hero?  Do you idolize an historical figure, your father or mother, a family member or a teacher?  You should - they are real people who've accomplished real things that have had actual impacts on your life.  If you searched any news/media source for a hero you'd be pretty confused.  Whether it's television, website, radio, or print (Am I the only one that reads the newspaper or magazines these days?) you mostly hear about celebrity nonsense - who's buying what ridiculous mansion, what musical artist is dating some actor, stories on how attractive someone looked in their thousand dollar dress - etc!  People seem to be more interested in celebrity relationships and strife than their own!

I'm certain, once again, that I look at things very differently than the average person (and I'm proud of that!).  To me heroes are all around us and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  Someone can be your hero for a moment or for a lifetime!  Now before I carry on, I'll admit that, of course, I once idolized Indiana Jones or Ken Griffey Jr. (a fictional character, and a sports icon - respectively).  Part of the process of maturation - growing up from a child to a mature, intelligent adult (I'm still in process) - is learning what a real hero is and I know they may have been role models or influences, but aren't "real heroes!"

Significant Lifelong heroes of mine include family members that have impacted and influenced my life as well as politicians, writers, and yes - some actors (but for good reason - not because they own an island and a yacht).  There's where the fine line exists - it's disturbing how frequent a celebrity is idolized just for being in the spotlight - even if they aren't doing anything good for anyone!  With reality TV anyone can quickly become a celebrity or an influencer and when I login to my email or turn on the tv or scroll through Facebook I mostly just see images of self-obsessed celebrities.  Could you even list 1 legitimate reason to admire them?

Then there's the little momentary heroes.  This can be as simple as someone holding the door for you when you don't expect it and really need a sign there's still decency in the world.  I think about several people throughout my life that were momentary heroes to me.  Here are just a few of these:

Back in middle school gym class after running relays for an hour I was lightheaded and so weak that I could not lift my backpack out of the locker - an unlikely friend helped me and walked me to the nurses office.  During a school trip to New York City I was standing like a deer in headlights at the wonderment of Time Square completely unaware that a motorcycle was headed straight for me, but a classmate literally pulled me out of the way.  One day I was very distraught and tried to clear my head by taking a walk.  I was walking down a busy street, probably sweating and very much looking like I felt, and a friend stopped on her way to work and asked if I was ok and needed anything.

In those moments what I needed was what I received - acts of compassion and humanity and I consider each of those people heroic in choosing to act the way they did in those scenarios.  

I try to be as helpful and compassionate a person as I can.  I hope you do as well, because whether or not your realize it, nearly any little thing you do can stick with someone for a very long time - good or bad.  Choose Good.