We posted a quote recently about being your own hero.  Since then I have seen several articles that speak to that same idea.  No, I don’t believe we sparked a new conversation, I just think we’ve been in sync with what many of us have been feeling lately.

The world can feel big and overwhelming sometimes and we can either choose to slink quietly into a corner or we can go out and find what we are looking for.

Some of you maybe have tried blazing your trail; being your own hero and you’ve been shut down, beat down or you just can’t get any traction.

Being your own hero isn’t as glamorous as it sounds.  It can look like being dragged through the mud for weeks, months, or even years.  Often we think of people who are their own heroes and what we envision is the end result of all their hard work.  Being your own hero is in the process.  It’s the learning, the falling down, accepting help when you need it, being vulnerable, feeling like you’ll never get up again, and then picking yourself up.

A friend of mine is going through some serious stuff right now.  She has tried to remain calm, cool, and collected.  She is the helper, the healer, the listener, the mom, the wife, the friend who doesn’t need anyone.  She is the one you call to check on and she asks about you.  Deflection is her super power, but I’m her friend and I know her tricks. She finally called me back today after several texts back and forth.  I refused her attempts to divert the conversation and focused on her.  She described her stoic behavior, her desire to retreat and power through.  She wants to be on the other side. She wants to be the hero of her story.

She already is the hero of her story.  She is being dragged through the trenches. She is bruised and battered and she is struggling to stand some days, but each and every day she gets back up and she keeps trying.  Relentless forward motion can look like one step forward and two steps back.  One day she is going to wake up and find herself on the other side of this mess and she will see that she was indeed her own hero.

Being your own hero doesn’t look at all like it does in the movies.  It’s hard work, a relentless spirit, bad weeks and months, wanting to quit and quite possibly looking like you just crawled out of bed.  Just keep at it.  Don’t give up and when you need help getting back up, ask for it.

Go be your own hero.