Whom do I admire and why?

All of us celebrate courage, bravery, guts, and other qualities to overcome adversities. We admire people with these qualities as heroes.

We have also been fed this concept by our parents, teachers, and others.

I have been thinking about this for a while. Why do I admire these people? I am beginning to fathom this.

Over the last several years my concept of a hero has gone beyond the normal, predictable stereotype. I admire people who seem to be effortlessly doing things, that I have always wanted to. I did not do those things either because I could not or would not.

And these may not be big acts of courage, like taking on the world. These could be simple things.

Like reaching out to an old person and helping him climb the stairs. Or helping a lady with her luggage in the airport when she is struggling with her two kids. Like speaking the truth when important, when others maintain a diplomatic silence.

My heroes today are those who act spontaneously from the heart. Their little acts of compassion, kindness & courtesy are like a balm that soothes the suffering, ailing, and the lonely. Overcoming the inner barrier to doing something good is often a struggle for many. Overcoming such inertia and shyness to smile at a kid, another human being is heroism according to me.?

In a fast-moving world when people are so busy just managing to stay afloat, making time for another human being is an act of heroism according to me.

I have often seen women act spontaneously to reach out to another human being or indeed any living being, with compassion.?These acts become significant when they put service over self and act effortlessly to help others.

All this defies logic. Therefore, these wonderful people end up doing what might often be considered impossible. There is no word called impossible in the dictionary of the heart.

My heroes leave an imprint on my heart. Sooner or later they start influencing my beliefs, my thinking, and my actions.

When that happens, I admire them even more because I can also experience the fruits of their actions.

What I admire most about my heroes is that they put in the effort and accept all the outcomes, whatever they might be, graciously. They do not seem disappointed with anything. They treat any obstacle as temporary setbacks and just carry on.

I suspect the world cannot handle too many of them. That is why such heroes are few in number.

I have also thought about followers. The world does not know how to celebrate its followers. It is because of the followers that the world benefits from the hero’s work.

It requires a unique temperament to be a follower. To surrender and follow without ego is the dream of many in the world. In today’s world, a follower does not remain a mere spectator. He/she acts.

A word for the spectators. There comes a time you will be bored merely watching. You will start itching to do something and support someone doing something good.

Please do not ignore that moment.

You will make a huge difference by just stepping out and supporting something good.

I started by talking about heroes but have ended up talking about followers and spectators too. When you want to make a difference in the world around you all three are important.

Have a heart. Do something good.

Or simply support someone doing something good.

Or pay attention and admire such people without restraint.

PS: I didn't mean to preach. I have just shared my thoughts. Even as I typed this, a few ideas occurred to me on what I can do soon after I hit publish.