When I was growing up, I had a crush on the Greatest American Hero. C'mon, I know there are those of you out that loved this show like I did. Remember the lyrics to the theme song? Believe it or not, I'm walking on air. I never thought I could feel so free-e-e. Flying away on a wing and a prayer. Who could it be? Believe it or not it's just me. I don't really know why I had such a crush on him, but I did; those curly blonde locks and tight super-hero suit. Focus, focus! Oddly enough, he actually reminds me of my husband minus the tight suit, of course. They really do look alike. The show was great! He was always helping others and every episode ended in triumph. The show wasn't on TV for very long, but long enough to have an impact on what I viewed a person capable of doing.
I once tried to fly like my Greatest American Hero. In my mind, I KNEW I could fly. Failure to this attempt was not an option. However, gravity had other plans for me. I wrapped my favorite blanket around me, climbed to the top bunk of my brother's bunk bed and off I jumped convinced that I would make it to the other side of the room and actually FLY! After hitting the ground, having the wind knocked out of me and every part of my body feeling like it was displaced, I decided that wasn't such a great idea! Even though I couldn't fly, I knew I was capable of doing great things.
I love heroes. They exist all around us, and unless you are the Greatest American Hero, they aren't lurking around in red tight suits with curly blonde locks. They are ordinary people like you and me. Do you have a hero? Do you have someone who you think about often and try to pattern your life after them? Do you ever desire to take one of their most fantastic qualities and make it your own by faking it till making it? (except flying...do NOT try this at home!)
What kind of hero are you to someone else? Do you live your life in a way that exemplifies who you REALLY are and what you stand for? The world needs heroes. We all need someone we look to that catapults us to a higher and better YOU!!
Heroes aren't afraid to stand out, to voice what is right, to stretch themselves and be better! Too much today, we find that people have two best friends...justification and procrastination. They are always together, they never part, and where you find one, you will always find the other. Heroes break up that partnership and introduces new ones like accountability and determination or humility and endurance.
I think there is a tendancy to have the "doom and gloom attitude" as the morals and values of society worsen and deteroriate. Some may think that looking for the good in people is a thing of the past. I am here to tell you...IT's NOT!! Looking for the good in others will help us realize and see that everyone has a bit of hero in them.
I like to meet people and focus on their positive qualities; then take something magnificant that I see in them and try to make ME a better person. Sometimes, like a pair of new shoes that have to be broken in, adopting a new quality doesn't feel so great. It feels awkward and uncomfortable. It's easy to want to stay in our own comfort zone, look at others and desire to be better, but continue to live in our comfortable bubbles.
I say it's time to put on the "rose colored glasses", and find the good in all. By putting on the rose colored glasses, we allow ourselves not to see or focus on every fault and every mistake that one makes, but through this rosey shade, we are willing to overlook their follies knowing that it really isn't up to us to judge. It doesn't take away the importance of not lowering our standards, but by doing this, we realize that the world, although at times is scary and dreary, still has so much good to offer. It takes a good person to have a desire to be positive, but it takes an even greater person to put that desire into action. What kind of person are you? Do you think the kind thought "Wow, I sure love this about that person", and never actually speak it outloud or are you the kind of person that actually speaks the thought "WOW, I sure love this about YOU!" making the receiver of your kind compliment feel better about themselves and doing your part to keep positiveness in our world.
You and I are the heroes of the world. If just ONE person TODAY decided to be just a little bit better, than each day we would see more kindness, more service, more acts of charity, and love. Selfishness would decrease and be replaced with self-LESSness! Sadness woudl decrease and be replaced with genuine SMILES! Is there going to be heartache? YES! Are bad things going to happen to innocent and wonderful people? YES!! Life is opposition. Without it, there would be no growth. We have to experience opposites to know the good from the bad. From this understanding, now we can CHOOSE how we are going to live and how we are going to react to each experience that crosses our path. Knowing that everything in this life has it's opposite, what are you going to focus on? What kind of choices are you going to make? What thoughts are you going to think?
What kind of thoughts fill your mind and are there any that need to be be re-evaluated for the positive? If you are a pessimist, you CAN be an optimist! That is a hero quality. If you are negative, you CAN be positive! That is a hero quality. If you are selfish, you CAN share with others your time and talents! That is a hero quality.
Think today why you have the heroes you do. Is it because they make you feel better about yourself? Is it because they bring out your best? If you don't have a hero....become one to someone else by the way you treat them, the morals and values you stand for and are preserving! Heroes really aren't figures of the past; they aren't made up characters that kids see on the front of a ceral box.....It's YOU and ME! You can make a difference in the world today. I love the words to one of my favorite songs: Have I done any good?
Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad., or made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone's burdens been lighter today, because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?
Then wake up, and do something more than dream of your mansions above
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.
Just remember being a hero is awesome....it's YOU!!
Helping
Elevating
Remembering
Others
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