CNN has requested IReport stories about personal heroes. I thought long and hard about it this morning... and finally decided I would share Alo's story. He's not what most think about when they think about heroes... but as I said in my posting... there isn't really a better word in the world that describes him.
He has taught me, and so many others, more about life in his three years, than anyone else in the entirety of my 24. There really is no way to describe how life has changed around here since Alo.
I'm not talking about the bedside vigils, the rearranging of our lives to fit around his treatment schedules or even the almost seclusion we maintain during RSV season. I'm talking about the rest of it. The feeling we get when we watch him race on hands and knees across the floor, laughing. The way the mere thought of life without him sends tears burning up our throats. The sheer happiness he exudes. The way he shows us day after day that all those little irritations aren't at all important.
When we crawl around on the floor with him... it's the only thing in life that matters. There is so much peace, so much contentment in cuddling the child and knowing he is still here, still well, still thriving, despite every time he's stopped breathing, been put into drug induced comas, or been wheeled into surgery. That joy he brings to life and to those who know him is truly indescribable.
Since writing that post for IReport, I've been thinking about what makes a hero a hero. Everyone, I imagine, has a different answer. But despite those differences, there is one thing that remains the same. Those people we identify as heroes are those that have touched our lives in some way and, through that touching, brought a moment of amazement, a breath of joy, or a simple peaceful silence.
I've realized that I have had a lot of heroes in my life. There was Jared, who saved my sister's life. There was my grandfather, who taught me how to live my own. Shirley, who reminded me of the importance of giving a voice to those who can't speak for themselves. Andie, who taught me that sometimes, to save others, you have to put yourself in the line of fire. My sister, that reminds me daily that living for others is sometimes the most beautiful way to live for yourself. My husband, who taught me that love doesn't come with conditions. The friends here at ProgressiveU that have shown me that even people you've never before laid eyes on can be a port in the storm.
In one way or another, each of these people have taught me something about living and about the way I want to live. To me, that's what a hero is. Those heroes don't always do amazing things, they don't always save lives, or become leaders of men. Sometimes... the most amazing thing a hero can do is show others who they don't want to be simply by remembering to be themselves.
No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. We all fall apart and we all learn to pick the pieces up again. But perfection isn't what heroism is or what it was ever meant to be. Heroism is, to put it simply, being the person you were meant to be and, by so doing, showing others how to be the people they were meant to be. Sometimes that comes in deeds so great, the rest of us feel small. And sometimes... it comes in deeds so small, the rest of us remember just how to be great.
The deeds don't really make the hero. The ability of that person to touch lives, to offer peace, joy, laughter, and even tears are the things that really make one a hero. Those are the things that, long after the details of the deed have been lost, we remember in intimate detail and for a short time, are able to recapture with perfect clarity.
An amazing post. There is simply no other way to describe it.
I agree it was amazing. Thanks for posting it.
Thank you. I've been exploring this site for about a week now. I love it, don't get me wrong, but a lot of the posts are depressing.
Depressing because they're so cliched and predictable.
God lovers, and God haters.
Pro-life-Pro-Choice
Obama, McCain
BLAH BLAH BLAH
I am uplifted and refreshed to find here a real, live , breathing SOUL.
Not just a regurgitator of programmed "conformist vs nonconformist" thinking.
Your blog pierces pretense, and forces one to look outside of oneself.
If you find a blogger you like, try going through their tracking page. Some, like Fallon and I, will probably have commented on some rather horrible pieces, merely because we offer a lot of advice. But those who aren't on the staff tend to comment on what they like more than the cliched stuff. You can access the page by clicking on their username, and then clicking the 'Track' tab at the top of their account page.
~C
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Fallon is a fantastic blogger.
My Blog: www.progressiveu.org/blog/jlepp-journey
This blog was really touching. The following really stood out to me in particular.
"No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. We all fall apart and we all learn to pick the pieces up again. But perfection isn't what heroism is or what it was ever meant to be. Heroism is, to put it simply, being the person you were meant to be and, by so doing, showing others how to be the people they were meant to be. Sometimes that comes in deeds so great, the rest of us feel small. And sometimes... it comes in deeds so small, the rest of us remember just how to be great."
Remembering the heroes in our lives is important. These are the people who have brought out the best in us when we were ultimately at our worst. A hero is not a term to be taken lightly. We must thank our heroes- whether the heroic deed or action was great or small.
This is so beautiful...
When I think of heroes, I think of my boyfriend, who's constantly teaching me that it's okay to just be me, my best friend, who's always looking out for me and is always there for me to talk to when things get tough, my school's director of student life, because she's officially my surrogate mom, my penpal, for being so much like me and being someone I can support and encourage, and Poe, because of some mysterious quality to his writings that never ceases to remind me of the magic in the world and renew my passion for my own writing, which at the moment is the only outlet for all the pent up pain, confusion, and terror I've got to deal with.
I definitely feel that everyone is someone's hero...
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
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Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me!!!
Very thought provoking. I hope that I am somebody's hero.
I know what makes a hero. Anything that is done that makes us stand out from the rest.
"Heroism is, to put it simply, being the person you were meant to be and, by so doing, showing others how to be the people they were meant to be"
My favorite line :).
But there's a hero you forgot to mention--yourself.
I would just like to thank you for stimulating my mind. Thanks for being a hero yourself and helping everyone start to think about issues that matter. This got me thinking...
Who's my hero?
I think it's really great that you used Alo as your hero for that CNN post. A very nice blog too.
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This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
Your post, and the subsequent comments, made me think of how easy it is to be someone's hero without knowing it. To ourselves we are normal, average day people doing what we have to do to get through our obligations and work towards a future goal. We admire others that we see doing what we want to do, or others that seem to have so much wisdom, rather do we reflect on ourselves and how we affect those around us, on how we influence others. I am a routinely stressed overly busy college student that constantly admires my professors or people I work with my future field. But every once in a while one of my roomates introduces me as... the real student... the one that can do everything... amazing... and i realize that someone looks up to me, because they don't think they can do everything I do. It makes me question my actions and be more aware of how I treat people and things. But it ultimately makes me realize, all sugary sweet cliches aside, that everyone can be a hero and all those who admire that person can be more like them then they think.
Your post reminded me that we take people for granted in our lives. I'm going to thank them for what they do. ~angi~
I don't know what I could add that hasn't been said already. This blog gave me chills. It makes me want to tell all of my heroes that they are. It's kind of an uncomfortable conversation though.
It's funny... everything you said about heroes making mistakes reminded me of Marvel Comics. All of the superheroes have made mistakes, to make them more real, human. It's geeky, but I think there's a point to it. They know that people can be real people that mess up and can still be someone's hero.
-Sonja :)
"Democracy works only when you vote. When you don't take the time to vote for the candidate you find the least offensive, you run the risk of electing the candidate you find the most offensive."
Don't worry. You're not the only geek who thinks that way.
~ *~
This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
As everyone before me has stated, that was amazing. And nothing more needs to be said about it.
This is so beautiful it made me shiver. Thank you for saying this. Sometimes it's all someone needs to hear to turn the world around. You certainly made my day; now I have to go make someone else's.
Fallon- after reading this post... I have tears in my eyes. What you said is not only heart breaking, and heart warming but it is also inspiring. Alo, as well as you...inspire me, and others to attempt to good in this world. Thank you for that.
I read both this blog and the story on IReport and felt a lump in my throat the entire time. It is truly amazing that the true heroes in our lives are usually the closest people to us. Yet, many of us never realize it or if we do, we never let it be known.
Thanks for another great blog!
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Respectfully,
Adam L. Labonoski
PUAA Director's Assistant
I find it veryfortunate for me that the first blog that I read on this website is yours.. I really really loved it! I completely agree with you and look forward to reading more and more blogs.
Thank you so much!!