Sadly, our society has chosen to use two words interchangeably, when they actually have very different meanings. Stars and heroes are two very different things. When we apply the term star to a person, in most cases it is very accurate. A “star” is a person who is bright and shiny, one who sparkles for attention and whose luster or attraction could be very fleeting. After all, the stars in the sky do burn out. And so do their human impersonators.
But heroes are nothing like the flashy stars that we see in the sky or on the stage and screen. A hero is someone who is not seen and really is much happier not being in the spotlight. A hero is someone who makes the tough choices or does what needs to be done simply to accomplish the task or reach the goal, not for accolades, notoriety or fleeting fame. A true hero is the child who sits patiently during a chemo treatment and smiles reassuringly at the parents hovering nearby who are devastated with a feeling of helplessness as they witness their child’s strength, resiliency and sheer will to live. Heroes are the parents who work two jobs and never complain so that their children might someday have a better life. Heroes are the grandparents who step in to raise a grandchild when his or her parent just can’t find a way to keep it together.
The point here is that heroes are not the people on television who make movies or play a game and make millions of dollars each year. Heroes are the people who sacrifice for others and the people who make a difference in someone else’s life without financial motivation. Those are the people who deserve to have their names on the back of a jersey or emblazoned in a star on the Walk of Fame. But those are also the people who would least expect or accept any praise or accolades for their actions. Those people don’t want you to pay $150 for a shirt with their name on it. They want that money used to help someone in need, not someone who aspires to become a billionaire. However, what we can do to celebrate these true heroes is to emulate them. We can work to become that person who helps others and makes a difference in someone else’s life. And we can teach our children that there are many things in this world which are priceless and yet have no dollar sign attached to them. We can teach our children how they can become the true heroes for future generations to witness and to emulate.