The Regretting Heroes

I had a rare opportunity to hang out with great minds yesterday. Not so much famous minds. Just great minds. From old men to PhD lecturers to students to forensic scientist. The mix of brains there was as diverse as it was interesting. I would be lying if I didn't say I was slightly overwhelmed. In the midst of all that talking and brainstorming and arguing, someone said something that stuck in my mind:

"There's an element of heroism in everyone. Whether you know it or not, at one point or another, you were someone's hero"

I belong to a class of people that find it hard to find the hero in me. A hero that has inspired someone to become better if not to do something great. My culture has taught me not to elevate myself too much lest I make others feel lowly about themselves. It has taught me to elevate my regrets above my achievements. But if I were to look in the mirror, I might just see one person who I have inspired...even to do the wrong thing. Would I miss at least one person who though I was slightly heroic?

Even the worst of people have been a hero to someone. Enough for death row convicts to have groupies and pimps to have covens. Because no matter how terrible you think you are, there is someone out there who thinks you've got it made.


To deny yourself the temporary acknowledgement that you have had an impact in this life is to live in perpetual regret. To embrace failure. To refuse to acknowledge a small part of your purpose in this life. If you are not a killer, thief, bank robber or drug addict, then you have definitely been a hero to someone. Because my take is, if these people whom we look at with such disregard have hordes of people looking up to them, how about you....a person who has a parent, boss or girlfriend proud of your slight and inane achievement. Who has family members talking constantly about your achievements.
If you have ever had a friend, colleague, loved one call and ask for your help/advise/ just to talk then at some point no matter how slight, you were a hero. I think in order to live without constant regret, you have to recognise your "element of heroism". Not for those around you. But for yourself. For your own peace of mind. You have to realisse that somewhere out there in the terrible world we live in, that there is one person who thinks the world of you. Who worships the ground you walk on. Someone who recognises the hero within you. Because let's face it, heroes are not only made in war zones and sports fields. Heroes are made in you and me!



Lupe Fiasco feat Skylar Grey (Words I never said)