You’re My Hero

“Heroism is a matter of choice.” Richard Cohen

Living a heroic life involves embodying qualities that contribute positively to the wellbeing of others. It is not limited to grand gestures but includes everyday actions that reflect courage, compassion, and selflessness.

My sister, Colleen, was the most heroic person I’ve ever known. She passed away in 2015 – on September 11. “9/11” is a term that sadly entered our lexicon in 2001. And none of us will forget the many acts of courage, bravery, and heroism we witnessed during the aftermath.

But you don’t need to be a doctor or a nurse or a firefighter to be a hero in your own life. You can be a hero simply by enduring something challenging for one moment more. By doing the right thing regardless of the consequences. By facing down your fears. By working through illness, injury, addiction, depression, grief, or some other trauma as best you can.

And when you can see yourself as a hero, you can do anything! Christopher Reeve said it best when he said: “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

That sums up my sister.

“Everyone is necessarily the hero of his own life story.” John Barth

Did you know that imagining yourself as the main character of a heroic adventure could help you achieve a more meaningful life? According to a study published in 2023 in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, perceiving yourself as the hero of your own life story is associated with psychological benefits such as enhanced well-being, greater life satisfaction, feeling like you’re flourishing, and reduced depression.

One thing Colleen and I often talked about was types of people, and how we could usually separate them into two categories: Tiggers and Eeyores. You know what I mean: those who are enthusiastic about life no matter what life throws at them (Tiggers), and those “woe is me and everything that could possibly go wrong will go wrong” sad sacks who can’t find joy in anything (Eeyores).

As cute as I think Eeyore is (I mean, look at those ears and sad eyes), I like to think I’m mostly a Tigger. My sister certainly was.

So, what does Tigger have to do with living a heroic life?

Let me begin with this quote from Tigger himself: “It’s a dangerous path I bounce… but I bounce it alone. Because the Hundred Acre Wood needs a hero, Pooh Bear! And I’m the only one.”

Tigger believes he has a purpose in life that only he can do: He finds his way through the fog and helps others find their way too. Any other way of life would be, in his words, “just ri-dickerus.”

And in his own mind, this makes him a Hero!

I believe that, just like Tigger, each of us is one of a kind, with a special blend of talents and qualities that no one else has. And I believe that each of us has a purpose, just like Tigger, that only we can do.

So how can you begin living your heroic life in order to reap these benefits?