Living Happiness

When I was small, I had people I looked up to and personalities that I admired. Some of these were real people, like Judy Garland and Katherine Hepburn, and some of these were not: Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables. I was drawn to the strength in all of these women, their smarts, their humor, and their femininity (yes, even for Katherine Hepburn). I could watch their films or read of them in books and imagine myself too on the road to Oz or bringing up Baby, solving one of dad’s mysteries, or whiling away my hours reciting poetry on Prince Edward Island. If these women did one thing that might be considered heroic, it’s that they captured my imagination. These women, real or fictional, were part of my life. I identified with them, aligned myself with them, hoped to become like them. In a word (or four), they were my heroes. And isn’t this what heroes do? They capture our minds and hearts and, without being aware, prompt us to better ourselves. Or, sometimes even, be better than ourselves.

What then are the characteristics of a hero? Does one have to be brave, valiant, smart, good-looking, superhuman, ultra-human, extraordinary? What are the qualities that a hero has that draw us to him or her in such a powerful way? The answer is most likely different for everybody – as different, as unique as our fingerprints.

But Ralph Waldo Emerson says something truly wonderful that I think fits the bill:

One thing that seems to be universal is the belief that heroes are in some way brave, a head above the rest when it comes to being valiant. And for that, I have to wonder, “Might not this bravery be seen in more arenas than just the battle field? Might not bravery also be a fearless living of one’s life?” Ayn Rand seemed to think so:

It’s yours. The world that you want, the land of your dreams, is possible if you believe in it. Gird yourself up for it, fight for it, and go after it.

My childhood heroes, in their own ways, did the same. They challenged conventions, were strong in a sea of weakness, were unique and shining stars in a room full of window lamps. They were who they were. And isn’t this how it perhaps should be for us, too?

One of my favorite quotes is actually from one of these early heroines of mine, Judy Garland. She says this:

We often try to emulate our heroes, to take on the characteristics and traits we believe have brought them success. But as we do so, I think it would be wise to be mindful of dame Judy’s wisdom. It’s okay to strive for a life filled with noble virtues so long as these virtues are our own, wearing our own clothes. Be who you are, in other words. There is only one you.

I welcome your thoughts today.

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Photo Credit: flickrphoto by Bella ,.