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| Heroes and She-roes: Ordinary people doing extraordinary things. |
In my neck of New England, May is a month of warming temperatures and brilliant flowers, as well as celebrating both Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. Hence, this month’s theme of “Heroes and She-roes” on the Romance Gems blog.
On the surface, heroes and she-roes can seem like a fairly straightforward
topic. The obvious idea being that veterans, first-responders, and mothers alike could all be firmly placed under that heading.
While I don’t disagree, the more I thought about this topic,
the more examples I came up with. Teachers who make a difference every day in
the lives of children, for instance. Or that person who helps someone quietly, without the promise of accolades or fanfare. A person who answers a phone call and talks a friend off a ledge - literally or figuratively.
It got me thinking about HOW we establish the meaning of heroism. What degree does context matter? Would the definition change depending on which society
or culture is defining it? How does the perception of heroism change
over the course of time?
Of course, as a writer, one of the first things I did when
contemplating this topic was to do some research. According to Google, a hero
is “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements,
or noble qualities. Example: a war hero."
Part of me questions why we’re always equating heroism with
war. I’d like to think we can equally refer to “peace heroes.” People who choose
conflict resolution over violence, but that’s probably another topic for
another day.
Additionally, a “shero” is a woman admired or idealized for
her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities; a heroine. (Fun fact:
Apparently the term “shero” has been used since 1836 in relation to the
suffragette movement. However, the word experienced a resurgence when Maya
Angelou used it in her famous quote, “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes.")
Writing Heroism
Writing Heroism
Mason Clark is the stereotypical definition of a hero; a
Boston police detective who regularly puts his life on the line in order to
save others. Even after experiencing a tragic incident on the job, he’s eager
to recuperate and get back to work catching the ‘bad guys.’
Perhaps less obvious is Olivia Harper’s heroism – or
“shero-ism.” When her parents die in a car crash, she chooses to leave culinary
school and return home to take care of her two younger sisters. She shows up
and does what’s right, despite the perceived cost to her own dreams or goals.
We may not all have the opportunity to be a first-responder, veteran, or mother, but most of us will have an opportunity to do what’s right
at some point in our lives. We can all choose to show up when needed and be heroic - which is something worth celebrating long past the month of May!
What about you? How do you define heroism? Is there a hero or she-ro in your life? How have they inspired you?
May Contest:
Don't forget this month's CONTEST is well underway!
What about you? How do you define heroism? Is there a hero or she-ro in your life? How have they inspired you?
Don't forget this month's CONTEST is well underway!
The Grand Prize: One (1) $20.00 Amazon Gift Card.
2nd thru 5th Prizes: Ebook Bundles by our bestselling
authors. The books being given away are shown on the Monthly Giveaway page.
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Good luck!
Good luck!
