#everyday heroes

[chronicallycouchbound]

What’s So Wrong With Having Heroes?

When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a doctor or a veterinarian. I wanted to help heal. And even as a small child, it felt like my calling.

Most kids dream of becoming a hero. The firefighters, the builders, the astronauts. The one’s who get medals and standing ovations. There’s many very monetarily successful movies and comics about all the superheroes we dream of. The people we want to save us. At one point, I thought I could be a hero. I wanted to be.

Being a hero wasn’t an issue for me though. People started to notice acts of kindness in me, and when they held that in high regard, I did too. I did everything I could to help others. It came naturally.

I bandaged my siblings and pets and strangers up. I gave advice like a wise old man, my aunt thanked me for helping her to leave her abusive husband when I was 8. I saved two people from drowning when I was 10. I talked friends out of suicide a dozen times. I became a street medic. I have saved dozens of lives, often under extraordinary circumstances. By definition, I fit the one for ‘hero’.

And I have so many issues with it. This isn’t a humble brag.

I genuinely think that we, as a society, put certain people on pedestals that shouldn’t be. I don’t think anyone should be. The hierarchy of heroes is inequitable and unrealistic. I think we should do the right thing because it’s the right thing, not to win an award or a badge of honor.

I see headlines all the time that are just ‘hero firefighter does their job!’. They’re paid to do this, of course they’re going to do it. As an abolitionist, I see cops hailed as heroes, usually for doing the objectively right thing, and it seems to magically erase the realities of what they do, the systemic harm they perpetuate. It’s the entirety of the ‘there’s some good cops’ narrative. And it causes great detriment to our communities because it makes it seem like the police do more good than bad.

Society particularly loves to paint white, cishet, abled, rich, educated, affluent men as heroes. The ones who can save us. Our hero.

And yet we ignore the people who are saving lives left and right, like people who use drugs who Narcan their friends. Or trans youth who stay up all night with their suicidal friends. Or the street medics who set up civilian ambulances for their under-served and neglected communities.

No one’s giving them medals.

Beyond that, people aren’t checking in on heroes. I’ve heard “you’re incredible!” and “thank you” a million times, but rarely do people genuinely check in on me after I’ve rescued someone.

And I usually need it. I’m at my worst mentally and usually physically after a rescue. It often takes months or years to process those events— they are traumatic for the rescuer too. Especially those of us without formal training or those of us who have attempted to rescue someone and lost them. We’re left to drift among all of these confusing and conflicting emotions, sometimes never understanding why.

The worst thing I hear: “I could NEVER do what you did”. It breaks me apart every time.

I don’t want to be doing this alone. I don’t want to have to save people over and over. I can’t save everyone.

I have to repeat that last one like a mantra sometimes.

I can’t save everyone. And so often, I still try to. I jump in without thinking. I throw myself into danger and worry about myself last, or, never. And it usually ends with me being seriously injured.

When I’d bandage up my siblings and pets it was after our parents hit us. I stepped in front of them as often as I could. I swallowed so much water while trying to save someone from drowning because they kept pulling me under that I puked. My 20-something-year-old boyfriend I dated when I was 16 stabbed me with the knife I had just talked him out of cutting himself with. He went on to keep caving my face in and choking me until I was blue. And of course, I’ve been seriously injured dozens of times during rescues. My body physically hurts so much afterwards, let alone the emotional toll.

I have to wonder: What would happen if I didn’t step in? Would it be so bad?

But of course, my brain always answers with a thousand of the worst case scenarios— or, just with what happened anyways. Sometimes people die no matter how much you try to fight to save them. And that has to just be what it is.

I think sometimes people live, and that just has to be what it is too.

But when we ascribe people as heroes, the message we send is that some people are heroes, some people aren’t. And I feel so strongly that this isn’t true. I believe that everyone has the capacity to help others, and so often, they do so in seemingly insignificant ways, and their deeds are not recognized.

Small acts of kindness are never small.

Life saving happens in everyday, ordinary ways. Sometimes what has saved my life has been something the other person will never remember or know. The Christmas cards from the elementary schoolers sent to the homeless shelter I lived at. The partners and friends who sat with me until I was safe on my own. My friends who held my hand as my heart beat dangerously fast, their presence being all I could feel, replacing the tightness in my chest. My cat cuddling me, purring until she snores. Strangers holding doors, strangers carrying my groceries, strangers checking on me. The dozens of items from my Amazon wishlists that have kept me alive.

I wish I could say how thankful I am to the community that’s kept me alive. How every time they’ve called me a hero, it’s because they made me possible. That they’re a hero just as much as I am.

I read ‘Mutual Aid: Building Solidarity During This Crisis (And The Next)’ by Dean Spade recently. In it, Dean describes “leader-less and leader-full” movements. It’s exactly what we need in the world. Hero-less and hero-full communities. We don’t need a select few— we need communities and societies structured around giving care. We need it to be standard, not extraordinary.

Personal responsibility can lead to community responsibility. We could have thriving, beautiful communities where we all care for each other so fully that no one single person is a savior, because we are all uplifted equitably.

I urge everyone I know to be more like the heroes they uplift. To think about what values they hold in high regard in others and to apply them to their own actions. To be what they already are, and acknowledge it.

You’re included.

#heroes #chronically couchbound #tw #hero #abolitionist #savior complex #white savior #white saviour complex #personal essay #leftist #anarchist theory #leftist theory #mutual aid #mutual aid networks #community care #feminist theory #inspiration #inspirational #inspiring heroes #everyday heroes #liberationist #equity

[mt-nynj-queer]

Christian Cooper

#Christian Cooper #everyday heroes #black man #damn fine

[prodigyduck]

Owen Stephens is a 25-year veteran of the tabletop gaming industry.

Owen has cancer.

Owen needs our help.

If you've played any of the the following games, then you've played a game that Owen helped write: The Black Company, Call of Cthulhu, d20Modern, Dragon Age, EverQuest, Fantasy AGE, Gamma World, Everyday Heroes, The Song of Ice and Fire, Thieves World, and Wheel of Time. I’m also the co-creator of the Starfinder and Star Wars Saga Edition rpgs

The Bundle has over $1000 of gaming products in it for only $30. Sales proceeds go to help fund Owen's medical bills.

#gaming #gamer #owen #owen kc stephens #owen stephens #fantasy age #call of cthulhu #d20modern #dragon age #everquest #gamma world #everyday heroes #song of ice and fire #wheel of time #starfinder #pathfinder #star wars #star wars saga #rpg #ttrpg #tabletop #cancer #cancersucks #cancer sucks

[justwriteyoudummy]

I'm writing a blurb about superheroes tonight apparently

The Leftovers:

Some people come upon their calling by pure hard determination and grit. Some come upon it by random happenstance, things in life just sort of click into place and they find their purpose as easy as that. The rest of us get stuck with whatever is left over. And let me tell you the leftovers are far worse.

Heroes. Everyone wants to be one. Everyone HOPES for a power from the roulette that will grant them the ability to save the day, get the spotlight, save the girl. You know the drill. But those poor fools who get the 'Leftovers'? The random and weird powers that no one really quite knows what to do with? Those powers that are deemed useless by society are shunned and discriminated against: heavily. Always knowing exactly what time it is no matter where you go or how many time zones you cross without looking isn’t the most popular when compared to the chick who can shoot lightning out of her fingertips.

Me? Yeah, I’m a Leftover, but don’t get me wrong, my power is useful in it’s own way: I can swap things. Yeah, swap things. I can take something and swap it for something else entirely. Doesn’t matter how big or small, I can take something from one place and swap it to another place.

The trouble began when I realized that my Leftovers worked on superpowers too.

#The Leftovers #Superheroes #Superhero #slice of life maybe #Superhero slice of life #everyday heroes #unedited because I'm just Bs-ing #but yeah #a premise mayhaps #something to write about #pantsing the hell outta this #Leftovers

[ashereggleston1990]

Despite My Numerous Disabilities, I have Managed to Teach as A Substitute Teaching Assistant at My Local School District for almost 5 years, now, I work with Early Childhood Intervention Pre-K Students 3-5 years old, General Education Pre-K Students, 1st-5th with Severe Disabilities and 9th-12th with Severe Disabilities & I used to work with Students in The Behavior Mastery Classroom, 1st-5th, and most recently, rarely with 9th-12th, Students in The Behavior Mastery Classroom!

#jobsuccess #true grit #overcoming #disabilities #determination #perseverance #persistence #overcoming depression #mind over matter #hard work #teachers #everyday heroes #essential workers #substitutes

[mallowjiccesyt]

Life Is Strange Remastered - Part 31 [PC]

Max warns everyone about Nathan. Victoria is next on the list to be kidnapped. Should Max warn Victoria about the impending danger that she might face?

Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: Mallowjicces YT

For Life Is Strange Remastered Gameplay, see this playlist:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLIeDZMG-0ZA4Ewd56PikA4SijRpYziu

#life is strange #life is strange 1 #life is strange remastered #life is strange 1 remastered #lis #lis 1 #lis remastered #lis 1 remastered #vortex club #vortex club party #victoria chase #taylor #dana ward #max caulfield #chloe price #hayden #nathan prescott #mark jefferson #mister jefferson #everyday heroes #youtube #youtube video #youtube channel #gameplay #youtube gameplay #gaming #game #youtube gaming #video game #square enix

[daveydoodle]

Punnany Massif - Hétköznapi Hősök (official music video)

❤️ 🎶 🤍🎵💚

#music #hungarian #punnany massif #hétköznapi hősök #everyday heroes #Youtube

[freshchocolatemilk]

Me, seeing a poor fellow who fell on the pavement: :(

Me, a wonderful citizen:

#milk #he needs some milk #old man #everyday heroes #my post #silly #old man holding me #sharing is caring #take a sip

[walkawayinsin]

What is success?

Now when I am sitting by myself and practically moping about not reaching my goal about becoming an archivist, I realized an important thing:

“Damn I am such a snob!”

I am moping about maybe having to work in a grocery store. I am moping about working at a daycare instead of the museum. But I remember how I used to reflect if my work truly did anything important. In difference to daycare for example: you give other adults a chance to work and create an income for their family. You’ve got the chance to help little humans feel safe and grow in a safe environment. You get to see them change and evolve and you love it. Who cares if it’s not as rewarding. Yes, it hurts your body because you were a desk-worm. But the smile on those kids. The warmth you get from being able to help someone.  

My other dreams have just been ego-boosting missions in my life. It has been about me succeeding. And my ego got bruised – a lot. But it is bruised because I allowed it to. Life has given me so much. So many opportunities in life. And I just ignored it!  

But here it is! Here is life! Here it is offering you knew ways of living. You wake up without knowing what is coming next. A new adventure is on the horizon. So yeah, maybe I won’t stay at Åland islands for a while. Maybe I will stay but not work with what I have in mind but so what. Working with a “normal boring” job is a brave thing to do also. You might know it’s a thankless job and you don’t earn as much or gain any prestige from it. But you may contribute to much more than a CEO or a musician. The smile from a person when your work position helps them with something – it’s a special feeling.  

When you’re brave to face the drunk people at weekends to have a stable income for a while. When you try something out even if you’re scared; you’re brave as hell, and you live life to the fullest.  You’re the heroes this society doesn’t deserve. We need to support and give more cred to those who work within daycare, school, medcare, service-jobs etc. Without them society wouldn’t work out.  

#the true heroes #the real heroes #everyday heroes #thoughts on life #personal thoughts #meaning of life #universe #personal growth #have faith in life #the beauty of the earth #the beauty of life

[neverthelass]

#everyday heroes

[whatameshugenah]

Marie-Madeleine Jarret de Verchères. At age 14, with one old man and two soldiers, she fought off Iroquois warriors at her farm in Quebec (they got so close they pulled the handkerchief off her neck), fired a cannon to warn everybody, and told arriving soldiers where to go to save men who'd been captured.

They grew 'em tough back then. Happy birthday Ma'am.

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/marie-madeleine-jarret-de-vercheres

#everyday heroes

[jaideepkhanduja]

Ramu Kaka: The Unsung Hero of Everyday Greatness – A Story of Resilience and Compassion #writeapageaday @Blogchatter

Ramu Kaka: The Unsung Hero of Everyday Greatness – A Story of Resilience and Compassion #writeapageaday @Blogchatter #Inspirationallies #EverydayHeroes #LifeLessons #CompassionInAction #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #Mentorship

Finding Inspiration in the Ordinary: A Tribute to Ramu Kaka In a world filled with noise and chaos, it’s often the quiet, unassuming individuals who leave the deepest impact on our lives. Among the countless faces we encounter, there’s one that stands out, not for fame or grandeur, but for the simple yet profound way they navigate through life. That person, for me, is Ramu Kaka. Ramu Kaka: A…

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#Compassion and Kindness #Everyday Heroes #Inspirational Stories #life lessons #Mentorship and Guidance #Personal Growth #Resilience and Perseverance

[luannudell]

Everyday Heroes and Angels Are Everywhere!

My recent post on NextDoor, a site that means well but often falls into hard places…. HEROES IN ODD PLACES II If you’d like to hear a happy post today…. I had just left my studio at the Barracks on Finley AVE today, and when I turned right onto Wright RD, I saw four dogs running loose down the street towards Hwy. 12. Two small cockadoodles (?), a small pug, and a larger red dog. I pulled…

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#angels in odd places #everyday heroes #look for the helpers #Mr. Rogers #runaway dogs #the kindness of strangers

[lavandamichelle]

Beyond Sheroes: Celebrating Everyday Black Magic in All Its Glory 

This Black History Month, celebrate the everyday magic Black women bring to the world! ✨ From scientists to grandmas, we're changing the world one laugh, one invention, one plate of greens at a time.

Hey friends, Lavanda Michelle here, ready to bust a myth bigger than Aunt Bertha’s Sunday hat! Black History Month ain’t just about dusty textbooks and tired statues. It’s about celebrating the everyday magic Black women weave into every moment. From scientists saving the planet to grandmas whipping up soul food that soothes your soul, we’re out here changing the world, one laugh, one invention,…

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#black history #Black women #celebration #Community #empowerment #everyday heroes #Inspiration

[nimixo]

Don't be a plain toast

There are no great people in this world, only great challenges which ordinary people rise to meet. -William Frederick Halsey Jr.

#EverydayHeroes #UnlockYourPotential #challengeyourself #RiseToTheChallenge #inspirationalquotes #personalgrowth #resilience #courage #Nimixo #motivation #motivationalquotes #MotivationBlowByBlow

#everyday heroes #challenge yourself #personal growth #resilience #courage #motivating quotes #motivation

[boardgametoday]

Gen Con 2023: Evil Genius Games Hosts “The Dark Gathering” - A Multi-Table RPG Event with the "Highlander Cinematic Adventure"

Gen Con 2023: Evil Genius Games Hosts “The Dark Gathering” - A Multi-Table RPG Event with the "Highlander Cinematic Adventure" #ttrpg #highlander #gencon

Evil Genius Games pushed the boundaries of immersive modern role-playing experiences by hosting a multi-table RPG event, centered around their popular Highlander Cinematic Adventure – a pivotal piece of the Everyday Heroes System. Answering an irresistible call, 60 enthusiastic players were drawn to Chicago, enticed by the tantalizing mystery: Is this the true Gathering of Immortals or a…

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#everyday heroes #everyday heroes rules system #evil genius games #highlander #highlander cinematic adventure #michael bramnik