Most people collect stamps, silver coins, baseball cards or antique dishes.

 

I collect heroes.

 

I know, it sounds kind of strange, but I just can’t help myself. It all started when I read a quote by Warren Buffet. He said,

 

“Tell me who your heroes are… and I will tell you how you are going to turn out in life”.

 

It seemed like a bold claim… but I decided to take his words to heart. If my heroes had the power to influence my life, like he suggested they did, I better find some good ones.

 

I started reading biographies, classic books, and family stories. I also studied the great thinkers, authors, spiritual gurus and historical figures on my quest to search out the most inspiring people that had ever lived.

 

*You should collect heroes too. It’s a cheap and inexpensive hobby and much more exciting than collecting stamps.

 

So, The question is, what makes a hero? I realized quickly that the people who sparked inspiration in me had one thing in common…they were BRAVE! Every single one of them had this unbreakable commitment to do what they felt was right, regardless of what other people thought, and regardless of the consequences.

 

So I had to ask myself…

 

 

Do I have an unbreakable commitment to do what I feel is right; regardless of what other people think, and regardless of the consequences.

 

I sure hoped so, but after digging into the lives of great people, I knew I had room for improvement!

 

Irena Sendler (one of my favorite’s) certainly did NOT second guess her commitment to do what she felt was right. In fact, She risked her life in order to sneak babies and small children out of the Warsaw ghetto during World War II. She worked as a nurse for the Polish government and saw first hand the health threats, and unsanitary conditions that the Jewish children were being exposed to. She knew the children and babies would die if she did not act quickly, so she hid the children in burlap sacks, tool boxes, and even coffins. She trained her dog to bark ferociously when they passed by the Nazi guards so they wouldn’t hear the babies’ cries. Every day she rescued more and more children.

 

Once the children were safely out of the ghetto she assigned them different names and placed them in homes where they would be safe. She kept a record of each and every child’s name in a jar and buried it in her backyard (in hopes of returning the children to their families after the war). Irena Sendler personally rescued over 2500 children, but eventually she was caught. The Nazi guards threw her in prison and broke her feet and legs with a club. She was supposed to be executed, but she bribed a guard to let her go… and by some miracle of God, she actually survived.

 

After the war was over, Irena dug up the names of the children in hopes of finding their families. Sadly, a good majority of the parents had died, but she was able to reunite most of the children with relatives.

 

Irena NEVER questioned what she felt was right, NEVER worried about what others were thinking, and was well aware of the consequences of her actions. She was the epitome of bravery… An unsung hero that should never be forgotten.

 

History is full of “Brave” men and women who consistently did what they felt was right! These people were surprisingly NEVER mainstream…they were NOT the type to go along with the crowd or play it safe. They were the movers and the shakers, the dreamers, the leaders, the revolutionaries…they were passionate about their purpose, lived by their hearts and their conscience. People like Joan of Arc, Florence Nightingale, Martin Luther, William Tyndale, Harriet Tubman, Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere, Corrie Ten boom, Mother Teresa and Ghandi to name a few others I have collected.

 

These people were unpopular in many circles, hated by some and ridiculed by others, but that didn’t matter! They did what they felt was right and ultimately gained the respect of MILLIONS of people for their bravery.

 

So how does this apply today?

 

You may never lead an army into battle, or rescue a child from a burning building, but you will certainly have the opportunity to put your bravery to the test. Someday you will have to face your deepest fears, confess your weaknesses, overcome your addictions, and admit your mistakes…Will you rise to the occasion or cower in fear? Maybe your bravery will be tested when people challenge your beliefs, question your intuition, belittle your dreams or laugh at your goals. Whatever it is for you…the same principle applies.

 

Are you willing to do what you feel is right, regardless of what other people think and regardless of the consequences?

 

Because someday your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are going to collect heroes too…

 

And they will want to know if YOU lived “BRAVE”…

Don’t let them down!

 

 

Bravery is in you.

 

Ali Eisenach

 

 Ali is the owner and dreamer behind Lemon Poppy Inc., check out her website and latest project “Humble Pie” at www.lemonpoppyinc.com or

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