If you really think about it, heroes are all around

Phil, who is a writer, got talking to someone from an organisation that uses writing as a therapy.

“We give people titles for their writing to get them started,” the man explained. “My favourite is The Hero’s Journey.”

The title stayed with Phil as he imagined

HENRY, who is in his 70s, is on a month-long hiking expedition.

When he gets the chance he updates us on his journey via the internet. Yesterday, he posted his thanks to some new friends who had put him up for the night. He said: “Thank you for your hospitality. I shall carry it with me wherever I wander.”

It was a lovely sentiment – and made me wonder. How about, instead of spending so much effort trying to get even with people who do us down, we focused instead on passing on the kindnesses we are shown by others?

Not only would the burden we carry on our “hike” be lighter, but the very path we walk would be a more beautiful one. Keep walking – and appreciating – Henry! people recovering from physical or mental illness and how much courage and determination that took.

“Sometimes raising a family can be heroic,” he told me, “or going to work every day because people depend on you, or beating an addiction, or stepping outside when you would rather hide away, or getting by on nothing, or helping others, or...” The list went on. In the end, Phil and I came to the same conclusion – almost everyone we meet is some sort of a hero on some sort of a journey.

JANICE sat at her recovery group with her heart pounding away.

This was the moment she had to talk about her deepest secret, the trauma that had misshapen her life. She laid it all out. There was a moment of silence, then someone said: “I know what that’s like.” Someone else said: “It happened to me too.” It turned out six of the other women in the group knew exactly how she felt, as they had gone through something similar.

“Perhaps,” Janice said, “it’s not what happens to us that’s the worst thing, it’s the belief it only happens to us.”

Whatever our hurt or our problem, we are not alone. We are so often surrounded by people who understand how we feel and can help. Let’s come together and let the healing begin.

When the sky outside turns grey, Please don’t let it get you down, For when it turns bright again, Who wants to wear a frown?

We can see the seasons, Change in each and every day,

Blue skies always reappear, Then it’s sunshine all the way.