HEROES prewriting- Everyday Heroes

EVERYDAY HEROES

MY POEM

Every day heroes are like you and me.

We meet them at work, in the grocery shop, on the busy street and everywhere.

They come in all shapes and sizes; we only have to look all around us.

Every day heroes have attitude.

They maybe the stranger, who rescues a teenager from a wrecked car,

Or the next-door neighbor fighting a battle with cancer,

Or the lady who lives down the road; struggling to relearn, after severe brain injury.

They have a ready smile in spite of their pain.

They never complain and always think positively.

They have great vision, no handicap; no obstacle can keep them from pursuing their dreams.

They never give up and do not let us give up either.

They never take relationships for granted.

They care a lot about other people in the community.

They always say, " I know what you are going through."

They have an indomitable spirit and great strength.

They have a lot of faith and courage.

They take pleasure in performing small acts of kindness rather than in grand intentions.

They look for the best and give the best, they have.

They inspire us to carry on when things go wrong

And teach us how to sing even when the sky turns gray.

They teach us a lot about living and how to appreciate the gift of life.

And they see a beginning in every end.

Every day heroes are people who touch our lives

And leave footprints on our hearts to change our lives forever.

--- Copyright © 2000, Nandini Cardoso --- Goa, India
All rights reserved; This poem cannot be reprinted without permission.


MY SHORT STORY

The Everyday Hero By G. Rynk Last edited: Monday, March 19, 2007

This is an essay about the idea of the everyday hero. Hopefully, after reading this people will realize in the words of David Bowie that, "we could be heroes just for one day." What is a hero? There are many definitions of a hero. Some would say a hero is a firefighter, police officer, soldier, doctor, or a nurse. All of these people are heroes. The firefighters and police officers who ran into the twin towers as they were falling to the ground would certainly be considered heroes. Some would say a hero is a person who fights the big fight on behalf of the “little guy.” Some would say the true definition of a hero is someone who does something they are not trained to do and could die doing it. The thought of a random person jumping into an icy cold lake to save the life of a young child comes to mind. Perhaps a hero is a civilian who disarms a gunman in the middle of a robbery. By any stretch of the imagination, all of these people could be considered heroes. These are examples of people who stand up and run toward danger when most would turn and run from it. That's a hero. However, there never seems to be a shortage of these acts of heroism. The bottom line is that as humans when people are faced with the worst possible situations many of them tend to become strong, brave, fearless and unified. When faced with a common threat, thoughts of hate, racism, social class and any other type of difference seems to melt away. This is a wonderful aspect of the human condition. It is one to be proud of. It is one to be celebrated. It is one that should not be discounted. Without these types of heroes, our world would crumble and we would live in a hopeless world void of compassion, understanding and humanity. This however leads me to another important type of hero: the everyday hero. Many people may never be faced with the decision to jump into an icy lake, disarm an armed robber, or save a person from a burning building. Although, that lack of opportunity does not discount their ability to be heroes. Everyday, people are faced with countless opportunities to be heroes in a very small but maybe, even unknowing to us, significant way. How many times have people let doors slam in the face of someone struggling with a baby stroller, wheelchair or a handful of packages? How many times have people passed by cars with headlights left on in the parking lot on a cold winter’s day and have done nothing to let the owner know? How many times have people heard the screaming cries of a neighbor being victimized by a spouse and have done nothing to stop it? How many fathers go through the act of bringing a child into the world but make no attempt at raising or supporting the child? How quickly do people cut each other off on the highways of America? How many times have people been unyielding on the road to emergency vehicles? How many times have people been unsympathetic to the suffering that goes on around them? These are just some of the opportunities people let pass by everyday. If one thinks hard enough he/she could think of hundreds maybe even thousands of examples. Sometimes being a hero is easy. Sometimes being a hero is hard. Sometimes being a hero is an everyday occurrence. Sometimes it is an everyday opportunity. After reading this, go out today and be hero. Be a hero the best way you can be. Offer assistance when needed. Spend some time with your child. Listen as someone let’s a burdening problem of his/her chest. Clear your elderly neighbor’s driveway of snow…for FREE. Expect nothing in return. Ask for nothing in return. Be a true hero and do it anonymously. But however you do it; just do it. Imagine how great our world would be if it was filled with everyday heroes.

SONG LYRICS
American Hero

He drives in to the city works extra hard all day
He finishes up early so he can get away
Cause there's a blue eyed kid on second base
Wants dad to watch him play
Daddy knows he's waiting so he hurries on his way

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives
No one gives a medal the world don't know their name
But in some ones eye their heroes just the some

She rocks her crying baby in the hours before dawn
She whispers words of hope to help her husband to hold on
She takes time with the children making sure they know she cares
She's more than just mamma she's the answer to their prayers

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives
No one gives a medal the world don't know their name
But in some ones eye their heroes just the some

Now I don't pretend to know you but I bet it's safe to say
Someone out there somewhere looking up to you today
They see every thing you do except for your mistakes
You may not think you measure up but you've got all it takes

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives
No one gives a medal the world don't know their name
But in some ones eye their heroes just the some

No one gives a medal the world don't know their name
But in someone's eye their heroes just the same
Yeah in some one eyes their heroes just the same

Back where we made our plans to tie the knot

My friends they all laughed at me a lot
They slapped my back and told me how they thought I was insane
They said son your too young to wear that ball and chain

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives
No one gives a medal the world don't know their name
But in some ones eye their heroes just the some

But love don't feel like a ball and chain to me
When I'm close to you my heart feels wild and free
If you are my jailer darling throw away the key
Love don't feel like a ball and chain to me
Love don't free like a ball and chain
It don't feel like a ball and chain
Love don't feel like a ball and chain to me
Well I still see my single friends from time to time
And they ask me how it feels to walk the line
Well I tell 'em it feels better than I ever dreamed it would
And I would not trade places with era even if I could

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives
No one gives a medal the world don't know their name
But in some ones eye their heroes just the some

Well if it is a crime for a man to love his wife
Throw that old book at me give me 99 to life
I'll spend every minute every hour every day
Holding you close I don't wanta get away

Cause you know heroes come in every shape and size
Making special sacrifices for others in their lives
No one gives a medal the world don't know their name
But in some ones eye their heroes just the same


EVERY DAY HERO QUOTES
"Heroism is not just pulling a child from a burning house or a driver from an icy river or a kitten from a tall
tree. Heroism is also holding the door for a frail elderly and driving courteously and cooperatively and
listening with an attentive heart to a friend's words. Small daily acts of love are as heroic as big once-in-alifetime
acts of rescue."
- L. M. Heroux

"Few of us will do the spectacular deeds of heroism that spread themselves across the pages of our
newspapers in big black headlines. But we can all be heroic in the little things of everyday life. We can do
the helpful things, say the kind words, meet our difficulties with courage and high hearts,
stand up for the right when the cost is high, keep our word even though it means sacrifice, be a giver
instead of a destroyer. Often this quiet, humble heroism is the greatest heroism of all."
- Wilferd A. Peterson

"Explore your mind, discover yourself, then give the best that is in you to your age and to your world.
There are heroic possibilities waiting to be discovered in every person."
- Wilferd A. Peterson