HEROES IN TRAGEDY AND IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
We all have witnessed heroes in tragedy and in our everyday life. Just recently, at the bombings that occurred at the Boston Marathon, many acts of heroism have been witnessed. In America, under extreme circumstances, normal everyday people seem to step up and become a hero. Between the school shootings, cinema shootings, September 11th, hurricanes, and bombings, Americans seem to step out of themselves and just get involved in helping out other people. At times like these, people don’t consider themselves, acts of selfishness are rare, it is all about helping that other person. Tragedy makes us feel that we owe something of ourselves to others that need our help. Tragedy makes us realize how lucky we are to have what we have, and momentarily, we step out of thinking of what’s in it for me, but rather what can I do for others. So in the mist of tragedy, a greatness submerges.
Heroism is not only found in unusual events, but also in our everyday lives. If you stop and think about it and look around, you will find your everyday heroes. Think about all of your friends who were not only there in the good times, but also in the bad. When you’re feeling unhappy, you got out of a significant relationship, things didn’t work out for a job promotion, or someone is treating you unfairly, usually a person will unload to their good friend. A good friend becomes your sounding board, listens to your woes, and lets you release your pressure cooker worth of problems, without making any judgement. They are your safe haven to go to when you need to have that type of release. Heroes can be found in that person who helped tutor you during a difficult class , they could be a clergyman, a coach, or a teacher. But the most common place heroes, that we take for granted is our family. Your mother, father, sister, and brother. They have put up with the good times and the bad times and have not abandoned you. Their support system is something that we all take for granted. In general, you don’t have to listen to the news for heroism, it surrounds you in your everyday life. So look around you, and thank God for all the heroes that are in your life. Be sure to tell them how much they are appreciated and how much they mean to you. Heroes are found in tragedy; but they are also in our everyday lives.