"A man is a hero, not because he is braver than anyone else, but because he is brave for 10 minutes longer. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
A hero is defined as a person "distinguished by the performance of extraordinarily brave or noble deeds."
In a Harris Interactive poll of 1,022 Americans, U.S. News & World Report (August 2001) reported that the top five heroes were Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King, Jr., Colin Powell, John F. Kennedy, and Mother Teresa. Number six on the list was Ronald Reagan who once said, "I’m a sucker for hero worship."
Just what makes a person a hero? The top five traits cited by the survey include:
Not giving up until a goal is accomplished;
Doing what's right regardless of personal consequences;
Doing more than what other people expect of them;
Overcoming adversity; and
Staying level-headed in a crisis.
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles," explained former Superman star Christopher Reeve, paralyzed from the neck down following a 1995 riding accident. His perseverance was a heroic inspiration to others.
Awaken the hero that lives within.