Heroes

Do they really exist? I’m not so sure….

I believe in heroic acts, that there are moments in life when we rise above our mere mortal status and achieve moments of greatness… and these are not just moments of saving a princess or slaying a dragon or even throwing yourself in front of a train for a loved one. These are moments of truth, when you let yourself be vulnerable, when you cry, when you confess, when you realize.

I recently read two Lance Armstrong biographies – a man of many heroic moments. Many things in his bios have stuck to mind but in particular his will to ‘get’ a mountain climb and his want to go back, attack it and own it. It’s amazing to contemplate and I think of my moments of laziness when all I really have to do is go to my piano and run my fingers up and down a keyboard (i.e. scale practice) vs him attacking a hill.

I admire the heroic acts of many people (Lance Armstrong included) but I cannot say these people are my heroes… because I do not know them. My heroes are my family members and a little known music teacher who teaches at St George Girls High.

There’s also a friend I know who rides a bus everyday to work and sits at his desk diligently working the day away. He achieves but is quiet about it. He gives but does not want anything in return. He believes in others but has a long way to go for himself. He is the stuff a legend is made of but he doesn’t recognize this. He inspires but doesn’t admit to it…

As I mentioned earlier, there are heroic moments when you let yourself be vulnerable, when you let yourself be brave.

So in this way, I feel we can all be heroes.