Hero

Okay, so this isn't really a paradigm shift to me, just something that I was thinking about recently. But maybe it will be a paradigm shift to someone else.

What makes a hero? That we could debate

Is a hero a constant state of being, like being male or female

Or is it something we grow into, like being a man or a woman

Or is it something we are for a fleeting moment

Yet recognized forever

Such as an olympic gold medal winner

Or is it something that comes and goes

Like a world record holder

Who knows

This I am convinced of, though

A true hero isn't made by accomplishing spectacular feats

Everybody can be a hero

Sometimes you'll be recognized as a hero by everybody

Other times, nobody will know except you and God

But I'm convinced that everyone can be a hero

For what is a hero

Except someone who simply puts others before themselves

When a friend needs a shoulder to cry on

And you are there, you are a hero

When your partner needs a task done

And you do it for them, even though you don't have to, you are a hero

When someone is to blame for something

And you take the blame, even though you're at fault

You're a hero, even if they never realize it

Most of the time, opportunities to be a hero are small

Overlooked

But many times, just a small dose of selflessness

Could transform you from the person who made the problem worse

To somebody's hero

Yes, you have needs too

And there are many times when standing up for what you need is good

But there are times when you should forget your own needs

And that was one of those times

I can't say what you were thinking

But to me the right thing to do seemed obvious

If you didn't feel like being a hero

You didn't have to be

You could have ignored the situation

Instead, you had to go and make it worse

Is it really that difficult to see that sometimes what you need just doesn't matter

That the right thing to do is to give up your need for a moment

You didn't have to come and try to help

Although if you did, you could have been her hero

I just think it's so sad

That in a moment where you could have been a hero

You not only chose not to be

But became the enemy

The choice seems so clear and so simple to my eyes

Maybe its not to yours

Yet the fact remains

You could have been a hero

But you weren't