So what’s YOUR hero story?

I don’t know if the idea of “being the rock” can be limited to just males. I mean, different people take on that role, and that’s not so much precipitated by gender, but rather by the role they play in their little communities. Like, take me, for example. I’m no rock, by any means! But my sister is. Quite possibly the strongest force I’ve ever had to reckon with. She’s the eldest, and she’s forged so much ground for both me and my brother to walk on, it’s no surprise that she’s a natural pillar in our little community of three siblings.

For you, I would suspect your rock-like abilities comes from your unusually empathetic ways (unusual for a dude, anyways). People feed off that, it would seem, and look to you for it. I suppose that’s how you’ve become a rock. And it’s also an indication of how easy it is for you to fail AS a pillar in your society — I mean, did you ever really apply for the position of “rock” in your life? It was just sorta thrust upon you. You’re just trying to do the best you can in the position you’re in.

That aside, I suppose it’s not a fair thing to ask you what your most heroic act is — it’s hard to get people to toot their own horn, sometimes! Besides, stories of heroism are best told in the third person, I think. From a perspective that doesn’t have to appreciate acts of heroism as a selfless things, you dig?

I have a hero story of yours to tell. I remember it well. I won’t mention it here, because it’s personal in nature, but, yeah, I’ve seen you be a hero.

I suppose, if you want to be a hero, and not turn to the dark side with the likes of Dr. DOOM, and Doctor Octopus and other NEFARIOUS doctors, you could try remembering the last heroic thing you did, and try to emulate it once more. You know, get a feel for it again.

I don’t know if it’s the same for girls or not, but for guys, we got this whole tough guy hero thing to deal with. We wanna be cowboys, real John Wayne badasses — this no-bullshit archetype that stares down that which threatens his life and never, ever shows emotion. We’re the rocks, you know?

I really try hard to be this rock. But unfortunately it’s led to some of the hardest moments in my life — when I have to admit that I am NOT strong enough. That I can’t be the pillar to learn on anymore. I get myself into these situations where I am all set to be the heroic “I’ll be there for you” sort of guy, and then it just gets to the point where I’m overwhelmed.

And so I give up so I don’t lose my mind completely.

I have no idea what the most heroic thing I’ve ever done is. I tend to dwell more on my heroic failures, because they make for more poignant writing.

Matt

Comments on your form aside, the paragraph on how you’d love to save the world is one of interest. You say you’d love to do that, to save the world, but I wonder why. I mean, what’s your motivation? This is an important question to ask because, among other things, the answer is truly the fuel to the success of such miraculous endeavours.

Why would someone want to save the world? I mean, do you have to DO things in order to be heroic? In my mind, actions aren’t what make people heroic. Superman isn’t a superhero because he can run fast or jump high or see through clothes or whatever. He’s a hero because of his heart. It’s not the act that makes you the hero. You don’t have to DO much of anything to be heroic. You don’t have to save the world to be a hero. You just have to feel like one.

There’s more to this defintion of heroism than just having heart, of course. With your beliefs in what’s good comes the responsibility of upholding that heart. That responsibility might call upon you to do things. And, you know, the thing you do, that thing that’s motivated by your good intentions, that might not be the nicest thing in the world to do. I mean, it might be gross. It might even be DANGEROUS. Or it might break someone’s heart. Make them angry. But you gotta do them. Why? because you have a responsibility to yourself and your beliefs TO do them.

I like to think that I know you. I know you have a good heart, filled with good intention. If the above rant is true, then what you have in your heart is the fuel to be a hero. If you uphold your beliefs and do things for people with the right intentions, and not only will you be able to accomplish them, but because you’ve accomplished them with the right motivations, you’ll already be more heroic than most people out there. And you know, people might not appreciate what you do, sometimes, but if you did it from the heart, then you did it right.

Really, I’m convinced that the hero inside you is not dead. You must have done SOMETHING that fits the above definition of heroism.

Everyone post a hero moment in your life! I got one!

Take away the sarcasm and you’d have praise; I’m too much of an internet nerd to say things directly.