Heroes are everywhere. Heroes can be the strangers on the street, the friend we sit next to in class who lends a pencil when we forget one, or someone near and dear. Below, a few of our writers share more about the heroes who have inspired them in their own lives.
Life Lessons From Dad
By Kaitlin Irwin--Holidays always remind me of my family, and this year is bittersweet, as I lost my dad to pancreatic cancer in October. While I’ve had ups and downs with my dad, he has taught me many things about myself and life.
My dad was the first one to tell me that adults never truly grow up, and this is both exhilarating and exasperating. As I began to get a taste for the “real world,” my dad told me that heading into the workforce is tough, but it’s also important to choose a career that you feel good about and enjoy.
I’ve used this advice to help myself live authentically, and while it’s not easy at all, it’s an adventure. To be complacent and static is dangerous, and my dad taught me that having adventures—no matter how small and simple—makes a world of difference. Traveling to a new place, trying a new recipe, or just dancing like no one’s watching were all experiences I shared with Dad.
As I go through his belongings and decide what to keep and what to let go, I’m flooded with memories of him. With the holidays fast approaching, I’m sure to think of him even more.
Sometimes it felt as though my dad were in his own time warp, going at his own schedule and adhering to his own timelines. It’s kind of refreshing though, isn’t it? In a society where we need to go faster, try harder, and be better, my dad was content with just doing his thing and enjoying the little things. That’s what I want to do not only this holiday season, but all year round.
Thanks, Dad.
A Warm Welcome Home
By Katrin Alyss--I would have to say that my mother-in-law deserves the title for being my holiday hero. Here are some reasons why she qualified for this role.
When Terry and I were dating, she gave me a box of chocolate-covered cherries so I had something to open along with the family. Even though she really didn't know me too well, she extended her welcome to celebrate Christmas with them.
The next year when Terry and I became engaged, she made sure that I came and spent Christmas with them. She gave me hug and a kiss after giving her a nightgown. She was so overjoyed to be getting that. She also let everyone know there that I would be joining the family. I felt like I was already in. She was so warm and welcoming all the time.
During the time she was alive, she always held Christmas maybe a week after Christmas or before, to ensure others could join their families on the actual holiday.
This woman was so giving, and even though she didn't have a lot of resources, she made it fun to be there. She did a lot with the little she had. She loved her family being around and she lit up brighter than the Christmas tree there. She even had Christmas music there and just had a great time hosting the family.
Prior to her going into the nursing home, she spent Christmas at our house. She loved it and enjoyed opening her gifts and spending time with her family. When she entered the nursing home, she just got a kick out of that we brought Christmas to her in the big party room at the facility. Even though she was gripped with Alzheimer's disease, she still loved the holidays and had fun with us for as long as the disease would allow.
In the end, I would like to say that, this dear woman who had a heart of gold was also the glue that held our family together. She will be missed but was very much loved!
Shifting Perceptions
By Nagham Kheder--It all started in a storytelling course I took with Professor Susan Taylor Lennon in the spring of 2016. She isn’t just some ordinary professor who only cares about the work for class. Susan is the type of person who truly connects with the people around her, including her students.
She was able to inspire me to live the most authentic life and continues to do so. To her, it is all right to have some rough times, but those shouldn’t be the moments that dictate your life for you. That what does dictate it is what you choose to do to make things better.
Whether it is seeking help through therapy, writing, or even dancing, do something that will allow you to alter your perception of the way you may view the world. Really great professors are hard to come by, but when you do, it’s like a light at the end of the tunnel.
Friends for Life
By Liv Orichiella--Hero is a vague term and used in a lot of different context. So, when I am asked to think who my hero is this holiday season, a lot comes to mind. I think about my best friend for going grocery shopping with me, or my sister for calling me on the phone when I needed it most. I have so many great people who inspire me daily, but no one inspires me as much as my friend, Jordan. When I think of a hero, I think of someone who chooses to act out of kindness without any ulterior motives or because they feel like they “have to.”
Four months ago, Jordan and I were absolute strangers. It was a matter of luck or serendipity that brought us into each other’s lives. Advocacy brought us together. Our passion to bring awareness to eating disorders and to fully recover is what made us friends.
Whenever I feel low, I can always guarantee that reading her posts or having a conversation with her will stop me from that flirtatious dance with relapse. Jordan makes herself vulnerable, which is inspiring. She mentions her bad days, but does not dwell on them. Rather, she uses those days as motivation to keep moving forward. Jordan is genuine and real. She makes me want to live authentically because she shows me how worth it recovery is. I read her posts and remember how much enjoyment I had when I was healthy enough to spend a weekend out with friends.
Happiness and living life without letting my demons interfering is all I hope for in life. These dreams of mine used to seem unattainable, but Jordan has proven to me that it is all within reach. Together, we inspire and motivate each other so that we keep continuing moving upwards. Neither one of us want to go back to being sick when we have tasted the freedom and harmony of life without ED.
To the Person Who Taught Me to Believe in Myself
By Luz Lavado--The person who has inspired me during this season is my best friend. He is a social worker to admire because of the work he does. He works very hard and is always going beyond expectations, accomplishing very challenging goals and never giving up.
Ever since we started working together, I always looked at him as an example of a leader and human being. He puts his whole heart when working with the families he helps unconditionally and that makes him so unique. He became my sponsor during my recovery and he was the first person who invested his time to support me during my worst days and if it wasn't for him, I don't think I would be celebrating my first year of recovery.
I consider him an inspirational hero because of the lives he has saved, including mine, and by being himself and being passionate at what he does. One day, he told me that I must believe in myself because all the answers I was looking for were within me. In time, by exploring and discovering who I really was and who I could become by looking at him as an example, I realized that it was about time for me to take control of my life.
During these holidays, I am thankful for all the amazing people I have encountered through this journey. My best friend has been an important piece in my recovery. I am grateful for his friendship and for always being himself and showing me that I am worthy, precious, and unique, and that I can accomplish anything I desire in life.
