With Father’s Day just past, the word hero keeps coming to mind.
Who Are Our Real Heroes
Who are our real heroes? When we’re younger, we usually idolize pop music stars, movie stars or people who are in the limelight, and we dream of having that kind of fame. It relates to our desire to be popular among our peers. My idols or heroes, if you will, were The Beatles, Bet Melter, Bill Cosby and on the list would go. It was quite a long list.
As we grow and change, our list of heroes changes with us. They mature as we do. A good thing because the chances of many of us ever being a star of any kind were very remote indeed.
When we enter our adult life, we find a need to look to someone or something we wish to aspire to; to emulate. The need to be in the limelight becomes much less appealing. A desire to be better than we are, takes hold, and then we find our real heroes in many different ways.
Recently something happened that brought this subject home to me in a very personal way. One of my former bosses, a mentor, and dear friend was let go from the company he had worked for over 25 years. He is a performer and has achieved what others thought impossible. He inspired me and all of my colleagues to be better than we thought we could be. He is a beloved, highly respected manager, and senior executive, from the lowest level to the boardroom.
You may ask; how could this be, if he were that good? They said it was a cost-cutting measure that he was an unfortunately a part. My personal belief is he was caught in the crossfire of political wrangling and ultimately became a threat to the few that he reported to. He was a casualty of his honesty, integrity, and his good nature. He will be fine, for that I am sure. But I fear that the cost of this action may have irreversible consequences for the organization that he is now leaving.
So how does this play into heroes? He is one of my heroes. He had faith in me when others couldn’t see my value. He gave me opportunities and the freedom to become what he knew I could be. He allowed me to find my way, to do what I knew would work. We made a good team. We prospered and succeeded where others had failed.
What makes him a hero to me is his steadfast belief in people and a core belief that honesty and integrity are worth something. His devotion to his family was something we all admired and aspired to emulate.
So who are my other heroes? It has been honed down over the years and is now a very short list.
One of the individuals that have remained on my hero list is Barbara Jordan. She was a black woman from Texas, who had become a member of the US House of Representative at a time when that would have seemed impossible. She was an elegant, soft-spoken woman who had a presence about her that demonstrated a natural confidence. I was mesmerized by her as a young woman. She had overcome serious obstacles to become the person that she was and to be in the position she had reached. She is still my hero.
My Dad was one I always looked up to. I was well into my adult years before I realized he was one of my heroes. It’s funny how that works. He was a kind and gentle soul. He was a Math teacher; the head of a math department at a very large high school. He was personally responsible for gaining scholarships for many talented students to MIT, CAL Tech, Virginia Tech and other schools of that ilk. He had an unrelenting faith in all kids, especially his own. He was always pushing us to go for our dreams. He taught us to see the opportunity that each challenge represented not what could stop us. He was very proud of all that each of his children had accomplished. He is still my Hero.
My Husband has been an inspiration to me. He never allowed me to wallow in my own self-pity when everything seemed to be going awry. He has always been my greatest cheerleader, prodding me to do just a little bit more, pushing me a little harder to do things I never thought I could, and compelling me to NEVER give up. He has been there when I needed comfort, held me when I experienced great loss, and celebrated with me when I achieved my dreams. He will always be my hero.
There are others who have been a hero of mine from time to time, but these are my steadfast heroes that I look to when I need inspiration. What they have taught me is universal. Honesty and integrity matter. Cherish our families and the time we have with them. Believe in our fellow man. Strive for our dreams and don’t let any obstacle get in our way.
My hope is that someday I am worthy enough to be a hero for others.
Who are your heroes and why? I look forward to hearing about those that inspire you.
Life’s journey continues…
If you enjoyed “Who Are My Heros,” check out Letting Go, Mia Slavenska A Woman Of Courage and for a bit of fun Pretend Listener.