We can recognise exceptional heroism but we are remarkably poor at celebrating the smaller and everyday acts of discretionary performance that can be the deciders between endemic mediocrity and sparkling excellence.
Heroism is good. It is good for those who are saved and also good for uplifting the hearts of those who hear of such sterling acts.
Pilot Captain Sullenberger managed somehow to land a plane on the Hudson River in NYC. He is hailed a hero and there are calls for him to be awarded the highest honours. I also heard several callers on the radio saying things like “Yes but he was just doing his day job. He is not a hero, just very cool and very competent.”
Yes, he was working but he also displayed amazing qualities, not least an utter selflessness in checking that everyone had left the waterlogged craft before he made his own exit.
Continue reading ‘Everyday Heroes: Quietly Making the World Go Round’
