By Athena’s Pix
“The task of the hero is to bring new life to a dying culture.” – From “The Hero Within” by Carol S. Pearson
When you hear the word “hero,” what do you think about? Knights in shining armor? Slaying dragons? Rescuing fair maidens?
The above quote gives us an alternate definition of a hero, and I’m interested to hear what you all think about it. This quote is from a book I read a couple years ago called “The Hero Within: Six Archetypes We Live By.” It got me thinking about how we can all be heroic in our own lives, even in seemingly mundane daily activities.
So, without further hesitation:
- What does it mean to “bring new life to a dying culture”?
- How can an individual be heroic in his/her own life?
Share your thoughts and ideas in the comments! Thanks!
I believe we all have the power to be heroic in our own lives. Even the smallest acts of kindness can be heroic! 🙂
.-= Positively Present´s last blog ..want to be happier? stop avoiding unhappiness =-.
Hi Amanda,
First off – wow, what a vibrant picture! I love it!!
The dying culture…I’m struggling with it’s meaning… For this, I’m going with it to mean human behaviors.
So, bringing new life to human behaviors – and I think of things like respect and honor – a couple of things that I think have slipped in recent times. So, as a hero, I think we can bring new life by doing this. In all situations. I liken it to servant leadership – being a humble steward in all we do. And by our example, we can change the world…one person at a time.
Amanda, I’m not sure if any of this makes any sense at all. I could be way off base here…and I apologize if this all seems a bit jumbled together…
.-= Lance´s last blog ..Where Is This Journey Taking Me? =-.
Hi Dani – Small acts of kindness are especially heroic! Just think what they all add up to.
Hi Lance – I also had to think about this quote a bit, even though it really struck me when I saw it. Also, I think your idea of servant leadership is great here. So, in a sense, being heroic has a lot to do with not just being brave and daring, but also with doing something for others. Like in your example with behavior. Maybe you could sum it up with the phrase “creating change.”
Amanda,
So…I could have went with a 2-word reply (if I were smart enough to figure that out!!)! You’ve summed up my rambling comment so well – creating change… I like it!
.-= Lance´s last blog ..Where Is This Journey Taking Me? =-.
Hi Amanda,
While we can all be heroic in our lives, I think the term “hero” is highly overused. Each of us can have heroes in our own lives but media types love to throw the term around without much regard to what it means.
For me, I would like to see the term reserved for extreme acts of selflessness rather than used whenever someone just does something “good”. The latter acts should be part of our everyday lives rather than something to be rewarded for.
As always, you have a great way of making one think.
Namaste’
.-= Roger´s last blog ..Racing to the Finish Line =-.
For me, I am able to feel heroic when I let go of all the ways that I habitually defend myself against criticism, and so on, and realize that my survival isn’t at stake — and from that place I can actually do incredible things in the world.
mmm, I think that heroism is in the eye of the beholder…
What might seem heroic to one person is nothing to another.
Just think of someone who is afraid to set foot outside. For that person to take a step onto the lawn is heroic.
Juliet
.-= Juliet´s last blog ..Coping With Praise =-.
I like your interpretation – creating change and Lance’s too – about human behavior.
Whenever I hear the term hero, Mariah Carey starts singing in my head …
“There’s a hero,
If you look inside your heart,
You don’t have to be afraid of what you are,
There’s an answer,
If you reach into your soul,
And the sorrow that you know will melt away. … ”
.-= Avani Mehta´s last blog ..Isn’t The Joy Of Doing Enough? =-.
When I think of ‘hero’ the first that pops to mind is myself :). It probably helps that I spend the first half of my saturdays wielding a japanese sword, performing kata to protect those I care for.
Every time I break down an internal barrier of my own, whenever I make someone smile or teach someone something that matters I feel like I am doing my heroic bit.
Doing what must by done by my code, not by the rules of the world.
.-= Jarrod – Warrior Development´s last blog ..Increase Your Capability: Pick Something to Learn This Week =-.
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Bringing life to a dying culture? I think that’s what is going on currently in our world.
Our old ways aren’t going to work in the future. War, hatred, prejudice, lack of integrity are going to be transformed into their oppisites.
That’s why everything is so chaotic today. We’re watching the old systems fall away. They will be transformed into love, understanding, acceptance etc.
Greg Brayden has a new book out and I was listening to an interview someone did. He said our lesson during these difficult times is to let go of fear and help and understand each other. Eventually we’ll find out we like it and that it works and therefore it will become our new way, or our new world.
.-= Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Do You Dare Be More Loving? =-.
Hi Lance – Sometimes it’s hard to communicate what we really want to say!
Hi Roger – Your comment brings up a good point. Overusing the word “hero” dilutes real heroism.
Hi Chris – “Doing incredible things in the world” – I like that for a definition of “hero” 🙂
Hi Juliet – You bring up a really good point. What takes one person a lot of courage to do, may not take that much for another. Great idea – heroism is relative.
Hi Avani – That’s a great song. 🙂
Hi Jarrod – I guess a sword would make you feel like a hero! Also, your point about “breaking internal barriers.” I think that’s very connected to being a hero.
Hi Tess – Your comment, I think, builds upon Lance’s. Heros create change, but they also create meaning out of chaos.