That’s what has led us to launch and maintain CoolPeopleCare for the last year and a half. We saw lots of people looking around for what they could do. So we wanted to give them actionable ideas. We wanted to get all those ‘gnats’ pointed in one positive direction for the sake of change.

Thanks for inspiring others with hope,
Sam

It’s easy to think of this kind of thing as someone just being nice. But I think that minimizes the importance of this work. There are moments when you absolutely need someone to show up like magic, not because you need something nice, but because you need your world view transformed. You need some hope to be born in you. You need to know in one moment that someone believes in you. You need a kindness midwife to hold the space so you can show up like magic for someone else the next time around.

no matter whether we’re talking business or our private lives–when we choose to use our strengths & power to get involved where it matters, we change the world.

Couldn’t agree more. For example, sometimes both my wife and I have had bad days and we’re both feeling frustrated. Thus when we get together at the end of the day, we’re both feeling agitated and a little stressed out which can lead to some arguments for no apparent reason other than to release that stress.

Thus when I’m fully aware of this stress and can see where things are heading, I basically let go of my stress completely (and without much effort), stop focusing on myself, and instead focus on my wife, giving my time and attention to her. In doing so, in letting go and giving of myself to her, I as you said “save the day” as a hero because I stop thinking of myself and bring back some hope in an otherwise stressful and frustrating time.

That I think is one of the biggest problems in this world today. To many of us are focused on ourselves and our own needs (and I’m just as guilty as anyone else) instead of seeing what we can do to help those around us. At the same time though, you can’t help anyone if you’re burnt out yourself. Therefore, if you want to help others, you need to find your own time first to recharge your batteries so that can you give of yourself to others. And that is the greatest thing a hero can give, as you said, they give hope.

I think it might have something to do with a sort of “believability distance” between what exists in the show and what exists in real-life. People who see Professor X doing good for humanity perhaps cannot relate as closely to him as to Dr. Suresh because The Professor doesn’t have as many flaws.

Everyone has flaws. Everyone makes mistakes. I think Heroes tries to show people that even if you are flawed you can still contribute to fixing the world; you don’t have to be some Superman-like shining pillar of Truth and Right to give back to the world.

There is no point at which you cannot stop what you are doing and make a change for the better in your life.

Thank you for cataloging heroes (those who build Social Capital). These people are important and they need to be well respected in our society. A book pointing these people out is a perfect way to do that.

Thanks for the wonderful post. You’ve been bookmarked.

Cheers!
Nate Ritter