I’ve always been fascinated by the culture of heroes.  Super or otherwise.   I, myself, had a childhood hero, Wonder Woman.  She was the most amazing woman to my 6 year old self.  Powerful, strong, graceful, well-spoken, intelligent and funny, with a killer body and great hair.  Now that I am “older” (I’m well over 40 at this point), and my boys have grown up watching Marvel and DC movies, I’ve started to notice things differently.   Let me give you an example.

I was driving home one day from picking up the youngest boy from his after school activities.  At one of the stop signs we approached, there were a couple of cars waiting.  There, a young mother had someone ended up in the ditch in her sedan and was unable to get out.  Yup, she was stuck.  There was a young man in a truck who was attaching a chain to attempt to pull her out.  After a few minutes (and some cars passing around him – seriously, 2 minutes is not that long to wait), he was able to pull her out of the ditch.  She embraced him and had the most wonderful smile on her face.  He beamed back at her.  It was a beautiful sight.   This man, who likely stopped to help her was, in fact, a hero.

Heroes can be the person who has jumper cables and jumps your car off.  Or the person who has the upper body strength to get that stupid lug nut to unscrew so you can get your tire changed.  Or the person who lets you in the check out line at the grocery store because you have 2 items and they have a basket full.    They can also be the person who knows the Heimlich Maneuver and saves you from choking in your house, a restaurant or where ever.  They can be that experienced Mom who takes a crying and fussy baby out of your hands for a few moments so you can get your bearings and breathe.  They can be someone who has a tissue when you don’t and need one.  They can be that person who knows that you have been fighting some demons and calls to ask how you are.

When, in real life, you ever think that humanity has huge problems, that the issues facing us are overwhelming, just open your eyes and look at the world around you.   People from all over the world going to hurricane battered places or earthquake destroyed areas to help get electricity on, to save families from flooding, to dig through rubble, to rescue pets, to give a place to stay, to provide a hot meal… to sit and listen to them talk.  Just listen.  Just look.  Just breathe.  A meal may not seem like much.  But there are times when a simple hamburger can lift your spirits and give you a chance to breathe.  To take it all in.

There are times when life can be overwhelming.  Your job isn’t going well.  Your spouse is not like they once were.  Your children are growing up and trying to find their place in the world.  Your parents are aging… those are everyday things.  Add into it the threat of war, natural disasters, citizens battling citizens over stupid things like art (which is a personal thing by the way), religion and politics.  When it comes down to it, I am human.  You are human.  I love my family.  I believe in my heart you love your family.   Your God and my God may not be the same, but we both believe in Him or at least there is a higher power in our lives.  I may think that Texas is the best place ever, and you may not agree with me, but I respect your right to disagree.

So how does all this tie in Linda?  Well, this is it:  to me a hero is someone who helps you in a time of need and does not want or need a reward or to be praised for it.  A hero is humble.  There are so many everyday heroes who we will never know, hear about or see.  It doesn’t mean they are not out there.  You can be a hero and never know it.

While Wonder Woman will always hold a special place in my heart, now that I am a grown-up, my heroes have changed.  My Mom and Dad are my heroes for giving me such an amazing life with them.  My husband is my hero for listening to me.  My boys are my hero for saving my life.  The man who stopped to help me change a flat tire when I was late to a job interview when I was 20 is my hero.  The experienced Mom who was in the pediatrician’s office when I was a new Mom and didn’t know what to do to calm my son down, you are my hero.  There are so many more people who have helped in small ways to change my life into one that is so very blessed.

Thank you to all the everyday heroes who are happy being paid in smiles and “thank you”s.  You are amazing and I thank you!