A Hero (still) Isn't Just a Sandwich...
Oops, looks like we're having a philosophical study today.
Look at it this way...it'll take your mind off of filing those taxes (and you should have by now anyway), because today IS the deadline, unless you filed for an extension (to either 15 Aug or 15 Oct).
But back to this philosophical thing...
CAUTION - YOU MIGHT LEARN SOMETHING HERE.
I couldn't help but think as I recently viewed the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as the Star Wars saga (yet again) how wonderful in execution were the stories about what a hero is, and what it takes to be one.
We've all that feeling at some time or another...when we wanted to be like someone else. We could relate to that person in so many ways, and we watched as THEY managed to overcome whatever obstacles fate had placed in their path. And we sat back, admired it, and thought "I want to do that, too".
It might have been that star quarterback from a bygone era, an action hero from the TV, movies or even a character from literature (when there was a time that people actually READ BOOKS), or perhaps it was someone closer to home like a teacher or coach, but whoever it was, we wanted to be just like them.
I always had a fondness for The Lone Ranger myself.
We saw qualities THEY had, and wanted those qualities as part of ourselves. And I would have to say that there are three basic criteria for what makes up any hero. They are NURTURE (how one is defined by those around them), NATURE (how one is defined by their genetic makeup) and TENACITY (how one is defined by their ability to persevere for however long it may take to achieve their goal).
Now, every one of us has had AT LEAST ONE hero in our lives...and others, even more.
As for me...I've got a list.

I'd still like to be a JEDI (think Obi-BOB Kenobi). Heaven KNOWS that the "Force" is strong in me, because after all this time, I haven't "gone postal yet". Not that I lack for reasons to do so. But I digress...
There was even a time when young boys wanted to be the PRESIDENT. Don't think we have that many takers these days.
And curiously enough, we have the very same media to thank for that; the media that brought into our lives many of our heroes have now managed to malign much of what they stood for, with their incessant nit-picking.
All are under some watchful eye, and flaws in people are being exploited to the Nth degree, all for the sake of sensationalism. They all "want us to be informed". Sorry, but if any of MY heroes happen to have character flaws, I didn't need to know about it. it was the POSITIVE qualities in all of them that I wanted to emulate.
Even my Dad, who was (and still is) one of the greatest heroes in MY life had his flaws. But it wasn't those "chinks in his armor" that concerned me. Just as I knew he would overcome his flaws, I was looking up to his positive qualities that made him (seem to me)10 feet tall whenever he walked into the room (and at 5'5", that WAS a feat...LOL).
Now we have all these "anti-heroes", which to me seems rather incongruous. An "anti-hero" should be a VILLAIN, should he not? Well, we DO have "heroes" that use their interpretation of justice to achieve the greater good (think Batman, Dirty Harry, or the Punisher), and there are those heroes who are rogues at heart,,,those who have "been around the block" a few times (Robin Hood, Han Solo, Rooster Cogburn, or Jack Sparrow), as well as so many more that walk the tightrope between good guy and bad guy . We also have those heroes who are never soiled by the evil surrounding them, no matter how often it beckons.
We also have heroes that police our streets, put out our fires, resuscitate our dying, and proudly serve in our military. Just because you don't raise your M-16 and shoot some baddies, doesn't make you any LESS a hero in someone's eye.
Author Joseph Campbell spoke of a HERO as being a person destined for something more than he already is (or has), and usually must undergo a personal testing on some quest to achieve "hero" status. It's a common person that dares to overcome uncommon circumstances; the ordinary individual that masters an extraordinary situation.
But that refers to "myth".
Or does it?
We have heroes among us at this very moment. Some we are fortunate enough to have in our own families. Some receive the accolades of an appreciating public. Some remain nameless.
And yet, when we strive to be like them, are we aware of what is required OF US to make that adjustment in our lives? Are we willing to commit to a set of principles, guidelines, and behavior that might at first, seem foreign to us? Can we divine enough wisdom to make this transition plausible to our intellect? And are we willing to fail on occasion, only to get back up, and remain focused and on course to continue emulating our hero? Can we feel comfortable that those qualities WILL make us better human beings during that time, or even at the end of whatever trial awaits us?
You don't get anything without giving something. The human condition is not a "free ride", and demands attention. What I (or anyone else) might have to give up to be like my heroes (which would be a lot of unnecessary emotional baggage full of bad junk) pales in comparison to ALL that I could miss out on throughout my life should I decide not to.
And when the credit and debit columns in life are all added up, the net result would be worth the sacrifice.
So it IS good to want to be like a hero, whoever that person might be. But always remember, you can never be EXACTLY like them, but only glean FROM them what YOU can apply to become a better person yourself and a better person for all the other lives you will touch.
And never EXPECT to become a hero in the process.
The life you live will take care of that for you.
(We now return you to your regularly scheduled lives)