Heroes overcome obstacles. Whether it’s a passerby who risks danger to save others in a one-off incident, or a human rights campaigner working tirelessly over a lifetime, a hero doesn’t take the easy road.
Most of us don’t aspire to be heroes; we leave that for exceptional human beings. We prefer to mind our own business, put effort into advancing our own interests, look after those close to us and enjoy our leisure when we can. All of which is easiest to do when we live in a stable society with relative wealth and few natural disasters. In such circumstances, we’re not called upon to be heroic and nor do we want to be. It’s far preferable to be comfortable.
A downside of living in relative ease is that we come to take our circumstances for granted. When things become uncomfortable, we assign blame. “Management / the government / those foreigners shouldn’t have done what they did.” When I think this way, my only possible response is anger towards whomever I blame. I’m stuck in a no-win situation.
Like it or not, we all face traumas and hardships at some point in our lives, both individually and collectively. Together we can expect life to get harder over the next few decades. When times get tough, do we want to be the passive whiner who blames others for our personal loss of comfort? Or do we choose to step up with an attitude of selflessness, concern for the greater good and a willingness to undergo personal discomfort to help achieve it?
Next time you watch an action movie, consider what you would hope to do in the hero’s position. Would you step up? Or are the soft couch and popcorn more your cup of tea?
Stephanie Hills ©