But I don't feel like a hero
Essential workers, nurses, first responders, firefighters, doctors, police, and now teachers are being hailed as heroes. Why? Because we are doing things that others could never, or would ever want to do. I've heard others say that they don't want to be seen as a hero, but society keeps pushing it on us.
Here's the thing. I don't feel like a hero at all. I'm not a hero. Not by a long shot. I'm simply a human being, doing what I do best in adverse conditions. I believe that others feel the same way. We aren't heroes, we are everyday people. For some of us, we are fulfilling our calling, which we swore an oath, or made a commit, to do regardless of what was thrown at us. That doesn't make us heroes, that makes us compassionate, living, breathing, human beings who are passionate about helping others. If that makes us heroes, then I suggest that we need to reevaluate how we few ourselves in society. Sure, it's not easy, no one said it would be, but we will pour our hearts into it. We will cry, we will get angry, we will yell, we may even feel like giving up. But, we won't, because we can't. It's part of who we are. These jobs aren't jobs, they are what makes us who we are. We don't need special recognition to do what we do best. Because we are going to do it anyway. We always have. We were there, serving our community, treating our sick, teaching our future, long before we were hailed as heroes. If we weren't heroes then, we aren't now. We are still the same people, the ones who lay their lives on the line to help those in our care. We've always done that, we always will. That hasn't changed. What has changed, is the circumstances in which we are doing what we have always done.
If we are suddenly heroes because of that, then again, I ask you to take a very, very, very deep look at humanity and yourself. Are you saying that because you could never do that? That's ok, maybe you can't, and that's ok. Not everyone can, that doesn't make you a bad person, But if you are you saying that because you believe that the majority of people would run when things get difficult, then that is bad. If that's the case, humanity needs a reset. Badly. Or maybe, we need to look at humanity differently. Maybe we need to start seeing that anyone has the potential to rise to the occasion, regardless of how difficult it is, as a society. Not individually. Some individuals can do this alone, but we are not alone, we are not expecting one person to rescue us all. We need to do this together. So if we - those on the frontlines and behind the computer screens teaching the kids, are heroes, then so are the rest of you. If you want to refute that, and say you are not a hero, never could be, blah, blah, blah, then neither am I. Neither is that nurse who is testing tons of patients everyday. Neither is that doctor who is treating the patients. Neither is that cashier who is bagging your food so you can survive.
I am doing what I do because it is the right thing to do and I couldn't leave my students without what they need. But that doesn't make me a hero. You are buying groceries to feed your family when you would rather stay at home because it is the right thing to do and you can't let your family go without what it needs. Does that make you a hero? If not, then neither am I. If so, then we are all heroes.
Here's the thing. I don't feel like a hero at all. I'm not a hero. Not by a long shot. I'm simply a human being, doing what I do best in adverse conditions. I believe that others feel the same way. We aren't heroes, we are everyday people. For some of us, we are fulfilling our calling, which we swore an oath, or made a commit, to do regardless of what was thrown at us. That doesn't make us heroes, that makes us compassionate, living, breathing, human beings who are passionate about helping others. If that makes us heroes, then I suggest that we need to reevaluate how we few ourselves in society. Sure, it's not easy, no one said it would be, but we will pour our hearts into it. We will cry, we will get angry, we will yell, we may even feel like giving up. But, we won't, because we can't. It's part of who we are. These jobs aren't jobs, they are what makes us who we are. We don't need special recognition to do what we do best. Because we are going to do it anyway. We always have. We were there, serving our community, treating our sick, teaching our future, long before we were hailed as heroes. If we weren't heroes then, we aren't now. We are still the same people, the ones who lay their lives on the line to help those in our care. We've always done that, we always will. That hasn't changed. What has changed, is the circumstances in which we are doing what we have always done.
If we are suddenly heroes because of that, then again, I ask you to take a very, very, very deep look at humanity and yourself. Are you saying that because you could never do that? That's ok, maybe you can't, and that's ok. Not everyone can, that doesn't make you a bad person, But if you are you saying that because you believe that the majority of people would run when things get difficult, then that is bad. If that's the case, humanity needs a reset. Badly. Or maybe, we need to look at humanity differently. Maybe we need to start seeing that anyone has the potential to rise to the occasion, regardless of how difficult it is, as a society. Not individually. Some individuals can do this alone, but we are not alone, we are not expecting one person to rescue us all. We need to do this together. So if we - those on the frontlines and behind the computer screens teaching the kids, are heroes, then so are the rest of you. If you want to refute that, and say you are not a hero, never could be, blah, blah, blah, then neither am I. Neither is that nurse who is testing tons of patients everyday. Neither is that doctor who is treating the patients. Neither is that cashier who is bagging your food so you can survive.
I am doing what I do because it is the right thing to do and I couldn't leave my students without what they need. But that doesn't make me a hero. You are buying groceries to feed your family when you would rather stay at home because it is the right thing to do and you can't let your family go without what it needs. Does that make you a hero? If not, then neither am I. If so, then we are all heroes.
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