Heroes

Have you spent much time pondering heroism? What is it in your estimation that makes a hero? There are several people throughout the ages that have been set up as heroes. Robinhood, King Arthur, Pocahontas and Mother Teresa come to mind quickly. Some others are people that we grew up understanding to be heroes but who, after much inquiry, were discovered to have characters that did not wholeheartedly match their heroic deeds. Does a lifetime of great deeds erase a poor character? Some say yes, others disagree & want the names and faces of these people obliterated from history. History, though, should not be re-written. Otherwise how will we know what has gone before, which things to aspire to and which to refrain from? How will we learn through observation instead of continually banging our knuckles up learning from experience?

As we age, there are people that we aspire to be like, but they are different than the heroes which we may have looked to as younger versions of ourselves. We no longer track the best athlete in a particular sport. Oh, we may know who they are, but their remarkable feats are no longer on a pedestal like they once were. We recognize their innate abilities are things they were born with and things that can be taken away in the blink of an eye with a debilitating injury.

We, hopefully, no longer chase after heroes on Wall Street and aspire to be just like them. There is no amount of money in the world that can give a person solid character and decency of heart, even if they understand numbers and markets really well.

We no longer look at intelligence as a thing to be lauded. Parts of intelligence are ingrained, some are bought through really great educational systems & some intelligence is bought with sweat and tears and persistence when opportunities for formal schooling are difficult to come by.

Even if we appreciate art or music, we don’t lift up the artists and musicians in the same way we once did. We recognize that some of it is gift, some of it is training, & much of it is hard work that made them the way they are. We also begin to recognize that any one of these people above can either be incredibly inspirational or complete jerks. Our visions are no longer clouded with the great things that they do. We start to see with more clarity and begin to look and discover who they are.

There are tons of athletes that are full of themselves and who treat those around them very poorly. There are billionaires who do the same. There are elite professors and scientists who do the same. There are musicians and artist in the same category. People who have “everything going for them”, who have excelled in their field, yet most people cannot stand to be around when they get to know them better. And, there are those who are just the same after their rise to fame as they were before. Those who stay the same are probably heroes, but it is still not because of what they’ve done, but because of who they are.

Character behind action is really the thing that makes heroes. You cannot have action without character or else you become an empty shell lacking in compassion. You cannot have character without action, or else other people will never experience the compassion that you do have. You need both, in tons, and at the same time to be a true hero to someone else.

As I age I think about heroism differently. I see single parents who get up each day to love their children more fiercely than ever because they’re doing it alone. It would be far easier for them to stay in bed and wallow in self-pity, but they get up and do what they have to do for someone else. I see cancer survivors who know that the little corner of earth that they contribute to will go through difficulty if they don’t show up, so they get up when they don’t feel like it and go help someone else. I see elderly who volunteer to help those in need in various ways even though their joints and organs tell them they should be the ones cared for. I see teenagers who volunteer to help those that can’t help themselves and offer their youth and energy because they see the need in front of them. All of these people share something in common. They share an outward view of compassion. Inward views often make us think more highly of ourselves than we ought. Outward views put the earth and ourselves into perspective. We are not the center of everything & it’s good for us to remember that. Other people need help. Looking outwardly to those in need around us can transform us from an everyday bloke into a quiet and unsung hero. And, in my humble opinion, it is far better to be an unsung hero each day than to have the attention of thousands only for them to discover an empty shell of a human being. Be a person of substance. Go and do something of substance. See if you can make change in your world by being an everyday hero.

Volunteering Opportunities For Seniors

We have all heard throughout our lives that volunteering is a good thing to do. “Giving back to your community,” is lifted up as something that the best people in the neighborhood are known for. And, many people, while young, do take the time to volunteer in various ways when they have time. The problem being that they often do not have a lot of time to contribute while they are raising families & working full time.

As we age, however, we have another problem that arises. We often do not have a lot of strength and energy left to contribute in the same way we could when we were younger. There are, however, still many needs which we can fill for our neighborhoods, churches & communities. This will be a partial list to start you thinking about how you can help to make the world around you a better place!

-Community Flowers. Many larger cities have landscaping companies hired to take care of boulevard plantings & corner flower pots. If you are fortunate enough to live in one of the small rural villages that comprise many parts of America, though, you could volunteer to keep your town green & colorful by planting & maintaining these public areas.

-Hospitals. Many smaller hospitals ask for volunteers to run their gift shops, libraries & even do some lighter front desk duties. You could also volunteer to visit those who are terminally ill & liven up their day a bit.

-Thrift stores. Many charities run thrift stores to try to offset the cost of the expenses incurred while they're doing their work . A few that are very common throughout the country are: Goodwill, The Salvation Army, Disabled Veterans, & St. Vincent's. There may be others in your area. Normally they need help with sorting, cleaning, folding & hanging clothing, as well as displaying numerous other items that are donated to the shoppe.

-Parks. Several pocket parks in small communities can use tidying up! Oftentimes if you notice an area is neglected, others have noticed it, too. If your town does not have a regular maintenance person to take care of this duty, you can go straight to your town board & ask if you can help. If playground equipment is in disrepair & you know how to fix it, offer your services. If there are items that need to be painted, volunteer to scrape & paint them if they will provide the paint. Small things like this can do wonders to improve the atmosphere where we live & might even be a catalyst for others in the area to spruce up their properties.

-Nurseries. If you love holding and comforting babies, you could volunteer at a day alzheimer care facility, or a larger pediatric hospital. They are often in need of people that can hold & rock babies, and studies have shown that babies that are held often are better mentally adjusted as they grow up.

-Sewing. Many shelters & hospitals are in need of blankets, baby hats, etc. Offer your services or get a group of sewers together to amplify your efforts.

-Cooking. If you love to cook there are ample opportunities for serving. Check with VA hospitals or nursing homes & see if you can bring a dessert of snack. Check with other groups to see if you can provide them help with a snack once in awhile. It may seem like a small thing, but it can relieve a great burden from others who are already doing too much.

-Libraries. Volunteer to help with books, or reading to small children. Some small town libraries operate fully with volunteer librarians.

-Food distribution. Several areas of the country have food distribution sites for the needy. They are almost always run by churches or charities that depend on volunteer help to be of benefit to the broader public. Even if you aren't able to lift heavy boxes, there are often other ways to help. Distributing produce or bread, or helping people sign in at registration tables or serving coffee to people who come through. A couple of places to check into are Ruby's Pantry & The Salvation Army. It helps a great deal to be able to help out those who are going through hard times.

If you are a little reluctant to volunteer in such an organized manner, just keep your ears open to those around you. Perhaps you can volunteer to fill a need that they have that might free them up, as well.

Maybe you think that this will not make a difference to those around you, but I can assure you that even the smallest amount of effort will not go unnoticed. It is becoming less common for people to do things as volunteers that it used to be. Because of this, it is often appreciated even more as people recognize that you did not have to give of your time & energy. The value is amplified & can make someone's day & benefit an entire community in simple, yet effective ways.