Heroes. They are everywhere.
Most of the time, we think of heroes in the larger sense. Like some of these people:
Harriet Tubman – Risked her life repeatedly to lead enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
Fred Rogers – Used television to teach children kindness, empathy, and self-worth.
Mother Teresa – Dedicated her life to helping the poorest of the poor in India and around the world.
Oskar Schindler – Saved over 1,000 Jews during the Holocaust by employing them in his factories.
Jonas Salk – Developed the polio vaccine and chose not to patent it, putting public health over profit.
John Lewis – Civil rights leader and congressman known for his philosophy of “good trouble.”
Temple Grandin – An autistic scientist who revolutionized animal welfare and inspired a greater understanding of neurodiversity.
These are just a few random people that came to mind.
But we all know that many heroes have played significant roles in the world all throughout history. They come in all shapes and sizes. In all walks of life.
Yet, the truth is? Heroes are everywhere. They are in our lives each and every day. And in many ways, we are heroes, too.
Acts of heroism come in millions of ways. Being a good person is heroic.
Those fine people play an essential role in our lives because they give us something to think about. They show us, by example, the ways of goodness and integrity. Oftentimes, their examples of courage or selflessness remind us of what’s possible.
Heroes offer hope when the world feels uncertain, and they remind us that one person can make a difference.
Heroes don’t have to be perfect—they just have to act with purpose and heart. They make us think bigger about ourselves, somehow.
Finally. There is heroism in doing something that we feel in our hearts is right and good. And kind. Even when it would be easier to do nothing at all.
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“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.”
— Joseph Campbell
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“Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.”
— Mary Roach
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Real heroes are men who fall and fail and are flawed, but win out in the end because they’ve stayed true to their ideals and beliefs and commitments.”
— Kevin Costner
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