A conversation on TED.com: Who is your Everyday Hero?

Dave Lim TM
Singapore
Singapore

Founding Curator, TEDxSingapore

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Who is your Everyday Hero?

By this I mean, a person who you see frequently as part of your life, work, school, etc.

Any age. Could be your neighbor, colleague, friend, family, someone you see in your neighborhood.

(Rather than a public figure, famous personality, etc living or not)

.. and share with us "Why?"

Topics: Hero heroism

+12

Closing Statement from Dave Lim TM

It's wonderful to see all the tributes and recognition you have be giving your everyday heroes.

Many people cited heroes based on their disposition towards life and those who give of themselves to others, especially parents and grandparents.

As food for thought, and to share, here are some definitions of heroes:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/13/assignment_america/main4802049.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTVKmZZN39I

Sort By:

Debra Smith 100+
- 0
Nov 3 2011: Some of my everyday heroes are TED commenters. People who have thought through and lived ways to exist and make a difference inspire me. I am more hopeful for reading their words.
Yee Ting Lee
- +1
Nov 3 2011: Every person who has struggled with him/herself, gone through difficult times with family, friends or partners, at work or home or school, and who has emerged wiser, better, and more self-aware... Every such person is a hero.

If this has happened to all of us, then we are all heroes.
Dennis Zheleznyak
- 0
Nov 2 2011: Very nice question,

Well, first of all I always say that no one wants to be a hero, it just turns out to be like that.

Being a soldier in the IDF, I know what it's like to defend something you care about or protect your ideology.
My hero is "Emanuel Moreno", an officer that served "Sayeret Matkal" (equals to Navy seals/Delta Force), being an amazing man like he was made me act like him and believe what he believed. Being a person / human bin comes before everything ! before orders / money / hate and etc ..

Wlell , that's just me .

Dennis :)
Yuk Hang Jason KONG
- 0
Oct 31 2011: I think the following ted talk would be useful to you.
It has an idea about "hero in waiting".
http://www.ted.com/talks/philip_zimbardo_on_the_psychology_of_evil.html
Jasmin Begic
- 0
Oct 31 2011: I have two actually. Alan Turing and Albert Einstein. First one, because he was the actual hero(check his wikipedia), not like people who think themselves as heroes these days, and other people see as heroes. The other one, because of his quote that changed my life. "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid."

I would also add my mother, because of all the things she had to go through in her life and still is going through. I idolize her for her powerful will.
Scott Kazmierowicz
- +1
Oct 31 2011: My very young brother, who approaches life with grace and humility.
marleen catmull
- +2
Oct 31 2011: my hero is everyone I don't know who has to care for a disabled or terminally ill person full time. That takes real courage.
Randy Zieber
- +1
Oct 31 2011: Everyday I have a list of problems to deal with. Everday I see the same man walking up and down the hwy collecting cans and asking for change. It might sound bad. But this man is my hero. He shows me what life could be. How life is. And how lucky I am...
Sergey Luchkin
- 0
Oct 30 2011: My everyday hero is my girlfriend. She's my mood driver. She is quite noisy and active, but it's what complete myself.
Other my everyday hero is book! Yes, it's peace of paper. This is my window to know something new and interesting, to spend free time in metro, to take some emotions etc.
Laura Reid
- +1
Oct 30 2011: I have had a few heroes over the years. One or two in every decade. Most I have lost touch with over the years--a sad consequence of an expat life--but that in no way diminishes the impact these people have had on my life or how I still admire them today. My heros came from different countries and different cultures but they shared the following traits: a questioning intellect, a love for humanity and a faith that we could do better. They were not always the most comfortable people to be around, because they almost always wanted something from you. Not things but action. And they weren't always the most convenient, either, because for them, it was all about the mission, the task, the job. However they brought something out in the team, in the individual that wasn't there before. So where they led, I followed.
Andrea Vogler
- 0
Oct 30 2011: Actually, I am. It constantly amazes me that I manage to get through the various trials and tribulatons that life throws my way.
Beste Arslan
- 0
Oct 30 2011: My grandparents :)
Fred Blum
- +1
Oct 29 2011: My heros are my kids. They both have experienced things in their young lives that they should not of had to and they have come through it with the grace that few adults would have.
benglish bengland
- 0
Oct 27 2011: my everyday hero is, of course, my own GOD!

I do strongly love him on a scale far beyond the imaginations!
Jim Moonan 30+
- +1
Oct 27 2011: This may make many people cringe, but my everyday heroes are my dogs.

My choice is so seemingly superficial that I won't eventry to defend it! I won't get into the "dogs aren't humans" conversation. This much I know: They love me unconditionally and with all their canine hearts.

I am always put straight by the quote: "I want to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am."
- Helena Ripoll Hazell 20+
  - 0
  TED Translator
  
  Nov 1 2011: Well Jim, you know what they say, 'If your dog thinks you're the best, don't seek a second opinion!'
  
  Jokes aside, I like your quote. Although the question referred to human heroes, I think you make a very valid point here.
  
  We all know about some touching and moving story about some dog who saved someone's life, or how they can aid people with disabilites or in somekind of therapy, but what I would like to point out is the loyalty they profess. This kind of loyalty is sometimes hard to find amongst human beings and when someone is feeling lonely or spiraling downward into the pit of despair, this kind of unconditional "love" display can have an incredible positive impact on someone's life.
Gloria Felicia
- 0
TED Translator

Oct 26 2011: Here in Indonesia it is common to have couple of maids to help you out with several types of housework and a driver to deliver you to places and later pick you up again. By this, I am not saying that Indonesians are mostly idle to their own houseworks, but perhaps since there is significant level of unemployment here, we do actually help to reduce it and I believe that these helpers are my everyday heroes. I consider them as my close friends and heroes as they help me through diffult situations—not only when I need physical helps but also, emotional helps.

Not to be forgotten, my parents. Without them, no money, no childhood, no me. :-)
Deborah Zotian
- +1
Oct 25 2011: A former teacher - Fr. John Schmotzer. He was a Jesuit who taught at Fairfield University in the 80's. He had been imprisioned in China for a while and yet was the most comforting soul. I knew him for several years before I even knew about this part of his life.

He cared deeply for his students, and his students friends. We had a dinner every year where we brought something from our heritage. I brought along a friend who was unemployed at the time. At the end of the evening, he made up a huge package for her of food to take home. Even 2 years later, he would ask how my friend was doing. I sometimes think he was happier she found a job than she was!

Fr. Schmotzer had the biggest heart. I cried for days when he passed away. He was someone who always worried about his fellow man before himself. Something we all should do more of.
Thanuja Arawandy
- 0
Oct 24 2011: My Grandparents and couple of best friends.
Brittney Stewart
- +1
Oct 24 2011: The children who are sweet and kind, especially to each other, that love for fellow human beings is heroic in and of itself.
Melissa Csikszentmihályi 50+
- +1
TED Translator

Oct 23 2011: For a very long time some of my schoolteachers were my everyday hero's. Nowadays as the poulation is decreasing in this part of the world everyday Moms are my everyday hero's. Credo to mine and all of them - they are simply the best!
Ayush Kumar
- +1
Oct 23 2011: Anyone who 'rescues' me from emotional turmoil, demotivational thoughts and failures. Be it my friends, family or the great people on the Internet. Anyone who inspires me and challenges me to be a better person than I was an hour ago!

But specifically, my mother - finding the strength to carry on so gracefully even after 3 major surgeries and other diseases and being my mentor. And my father - helping me think practically and making me ready to take life head-on.
Tara Leona
- +1
TED Translator

Oct 23 2011: I have two perspectives on this question.
the first one is one of my best friends whose influence I can see in my everyday life as she saved my life and I am grateful for that every single day.
She rescued me when suicide thoughts became constant in my life, she coincidentally found the letter I wrote before I had a chance to finish it. Forcing me to share these thoughts and by that helping me to get through it (not being alone and understood), gave me the opportunity to keep going and eventually to survive on my own.
She also forced me into therapy (for which I hated her at the beginning) and my telling me truths I did not want to admit about myself.
The second one is variable, mostly a person who shares with me (even if it is a single cigarette) or makes me laugh, trusts me (as it shows me the apprechiation they give me) or just shows extraordinary mental strength or morals.
I like the part that we share a single moment- maybe having nothing else in common than this certain second- obligied to each other and then tear apart again and continue our lives independent from each other.
Or taking the opportunity to become friends and share more than this single moment.
But in the end, it does not matter what happens in the future as this moment has happened and I am thankful for every single one of them.
Nimish Shrestha
- 0
Oct 23 2011: My everyday hero is my family and girlfriend. Throughout the text I would refer my family and girlfriend as just "family" as she is an inseparable part of my family. When I say family, I don't want to miss any one of them. There may be hundreds of international heroes who might have influenced millions of people through out the world, but my family has ever been so near, watchful, protective and supportive every single day.

Why do I say this? Because my family has always been with me no matter what circumstances I may be going through. What ever I learnt, it first started from my family: Tying laces, table manners, behaving or almost anything I can think of. I still continue to learn from my family each day.

When I was worried, they were there to help, and when I had some achievement, they were there to celebrate. The best part is that I can always talk things out, and believe me this is a huge help. They might not have given a way-out for my every problem, but a feeling of having someone and being able to talk to them about it has helped immensely. Now that I have a calm mind, I can solve rest of the problem myself or at least identify the one who can solve it.

In your everyday life you get exposed to hundreds of other people around you and they influence your way of thinking and behaving in a good way or the other. But, my family has always been functioning so consistently to keep me on track disregarding all my mistakes.

For all the undivided love, knowledge and support I regard my family as my each and everyday's hero.
michael wang
- 0
Oct 23 2011: Me,cause,everything could be changed but michael forever.Yeah ,i'm michael
Helen Hupe 20+
- +2
Oct 23 2011: My husband of 57 years. He is a good guy.
Priya Shah
- +2
Oct 22 2011: My mother - her strength and perseverance is an inspiration to me. For that reason, any mother I meet or come across has evokes a sense of admiration from me.
R Victoria Jodis
- 0
Oct 22 2011: Thank you Deb Smith!
V
Bryann Alexandros
- +2
Oct 22 2011: People here. Speakers on TED. Pretty much anyone who can bring forth a creative idea despite ensuing unpopularity with the masses.
Jonathan Barker
- +1
Oct 22 2011: My every day hero is the gentleman who opened a thrift store down the street where profits go to adoption agencies around the world. I look around my room and think "Could anything i don't use be used better my them?" Just having the ability to donate so easy is so satisfying. I recommend a donation center on every block where you could merely walk to help out.
Tina Tinaa
- +1
Oct 22 2011: Hello everyone. My everyday hero is my mother, she is my other half. She is there for me every time I need her, she helps me when I can't. My mother has the answer for everything that I can't.