Several weeks ago I thought about blogging about what makes a hero. I didn’t, for I could not think of good examples that didn’t wear red or yellow spandex. I have an example now. My work supervisor is an amazing woman. She has a very simple and clear-headed, rational yet faith-filled perspective on our clients and the things that happen in our center.
My agency has been operating out of a deficit for the past year and a half. This time last year, the agency made some dramatic personnel shifts, and still managed to save a job for everyone on staff. This year, it does not look so promising.
She called my department in for a meeting so that she could tell us before the all-staff meeting tomorrow. While we all sat together, she allowed us to express our frustrations and fears, and even shared some of her own. She reminded us, “It’s normal to feel angry and threatened, and worry about our own personal things for awhile. Once we’ve worked through that, then we can think about what we can do to fix things.”
Such a calm and pragmatic way of handling people’s emotions and reactions is empathic and accepting, yet so practical. By not denying us the right to feel as we were, she honored our reactions while still reminding us that – as professionals – we have work to do.
This, I believe, is an effective way to make things happen, and I think this would be how I define a hero.
How do you define hero, dear reader?
How to define a "Hero?"
By sahara - Posted on December 9th, 2008
My daddy's my hero...he gets up every day and goes to work. When he gets home, he puts up with my Mom's bad mood because the kids haven't listened that day. He lectures the kids. He endures the fact that we haven't made dinner for him. Then, at bedtime, he waits until all the kids are asleep before going to bed himself, just to get up at 530-6 the next morning and endure the same ol' drudgery.
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
Great example! What a blessing to have such a supportive person in your life! Thanks for the post!
"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."
H.D.Thoreau http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/sahara
Thanks! : ) He's definitely awesome and I don't think we tell him often enough. : ) He's definitely a blessing!
RESPECT LIFE
http://progressiveu.org/blog/respectlife
"It is poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish."
~Mother Teresa
I think the common thread on most heros is a great deal of selflessness and self-sacrifice,
I always thought Superman was the least compelling of the various comic book heros because he was just too powerful. Sure he did great stuff but he risked very little in the process. It was just easy. His only vulnerability happened to be about the most rare stuff on earth so he did not have much to worry about. The only way in my mind that he exhibited the qualities of a hero was that he did not use his enormous power for anything evil or to become some sort of dictator.
The real heros risk and or sacrifice a lot and keep on doing it anyway because they have a sense of right and they elevate that value above their own needs.
Every man and woman I have saluted as they passed me covered in the American flag. Every time you hear about some thing good happening, but no one takes the credit. Every cop who everyone hates until they need them, and yet still gets up everymorning to do their job. Every parent who tucks thier child into bed each night.
My wife, who sits at home with 3 kids while I play in the sand for the third time thousands of miles away,.
You get my point.