Depressed? Lost? Hopeless?: Feed Your Heroes: Lincoln, Washington, King, Stanton, Anthony . . .

Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Kobe Bryant, Terrell Owens, Barry Bonds . . . not heroes.

Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Martin Luther King, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B Anthony, Mohandas Karamchand (Gandhi), Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby . . . heroes.

The first group mentioned may be heroes in other ways than commonly expressed, but scoring under pressure is not an element of a true hero.

But what of these heroes? Why mention them? Can they help us?

If you are failing, bored, depressed, miserable, sad, at a loss, failing, desperate, and you are the only one involved with few if any reliant on you, then by comparison to the above heroes, you have a minor problem. Let's take a look at one of America's heroes to clarify.

George Washington.

"It is often remarked that great artists can be lousy human beings. Generals and statesmen, on the other hand, cannot excel at their work if they lack human excellence, because so much of that work consists of inspiring their soldiers and citizens by example" (pbs dot org)

Some say he wasn't a great intellectual, not a great speaker, couldn't move people to action with great oratory skill. But when it comes down to it, does it matter? What is more important? Action or words. Let's see.

Like your country? Like your freedoms? Economic strength that outshines any other country in the world hands down, recession or not? Good, you've come to the right place. But do you know who is greatly responsible for getting this young country started and keeping it going when it looked like certain failure? Yes, George Washington, he of unrelenting courage, humility, and leadership ability beyond compare. But one of the few leaders equally willing to take up power and to put it down when required.

Consider the following. At several points during the American Revolution, common folk, military types and politicians alike were asking for his resignation, for he was losing battle after battle. But in the beginning of the war, who could blame him for failure when he was given a ragtag army that could barely march or organize without stumbling into each other. It wasn't until the French general the Marquis de Lafayette (along with the French navy, of course) helped Washington get into battle ready condition with his forceful and outrageous manor that the war turned fully in America's favor.

Through great leadership--courage, humility, and honor--Washington put his very life on the line as he took on enemy and friendly crossfire to push and prod his troops to fight and to eventual victory. He did so, and this to a great degree is the reason the colonists won the American Revolution, enabling this country to remain alive and moving in the direction many desired. But the main reason his troops responded so well was not out of fear but love for their commander, a love that pushed them to superhuman effort and deed.

During the winter of Valley Forge, Washington was the only officer to stay with his troops working day and night to keep them alive. He could also be seen in the trenches digging alongside his troops at the battle of Yorktown. At the battle of Princeton, as American troops retreated in chaos, Washington, with little concern for the bullets flying within inches of taking his very life, berated the commanding officer in shouts so loud it could be heard over the roar of the battle:

"Marquis de Lafayette . . . recorded later that Washington, at this dangerous moment in the war, 'seemed to arrest fortune with one glance.... His presence stopped the retreat.... His graceful bearing on horseback, his calm and deportment which still retained a trace of displeasure...were all calculated to inspire the highest degree of enthusiasm.... I thought then as now that I had never beheld so superb a man'" (pbs dot com).

What wonder! What leadership! What presence! What purpose! What selfishness! Need more inspiration to get you out of your little life rut? Read on.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was a self-taught attorney who repetitively failed at business and politics until he reached his late forties. Here is a man to follow for tenacity, bravery, toughness, and selflessness.

You've got depression? Suicidal tendencies? Want to die? Can't take it?

Lincoln was a performer, a doer, an overcomer in the same boat, for he suffered greatly from frequent moments of great depression and self-doubt. Think you can't do it? do anything, just because of a little depression or self-doubt? Follow Lincoln as he not only overcomes his depression but does so after throwing America on his back, saving the very country of great freedom and prosperity in which we live.

Lincoln was an overcomer. He overcame poverty and lack of formal education. He overcame depression and a wife who suffered her own mental illness. He overcame repetitive failures in business and politics. He overcame the death of two of his four children, one while in the White House, but Lincoln overcame to make brave decisions that were essential in winning the Civil War to keep this young, democratic nation alive for all current and future inhabitants:

"Willie died in the White House on February 20, 1862, at the age of 11, while his father was President. It was one of the sadist events in the White House. His death was a devastating blow to his parents, and it cast a dark shadow over the remaining years of Lincoln's Presidency, already made tragic by the Civil War. Lincoln grieved silently in his son's bedroom for 2 days. Mary wailed for days" (histclo dot com).

Sad? Depressed? Suicidal? Can't take it anymore? What of those who have not only been there but overcame to deal with issues of great magnitude and import that few have ever had to deal with?

It was Lincoln who sacrificed his health, even his very life to save this country so that it could prosper and bring to its shores those greatly in need of comfort and hope. It was Lincoln who worked seven days a week, eighteen hours a day, planning, worrying, and fretting over the very life and soul of this country for our benefit, for the benefit of all those seeking comfort and hope. It was Lincoln who thought little for his own life even after the war was over as he sat in Ford's Theater almost waiting, knowing he would die in such a manor, for just hours previous he had envisioned his own death in a dream.

Here is a hero. Here is a man for all seasons. Here is a man who should be studied, honored, and revered for all that he has done for all of us and more.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B Anthony

Sad but true is the fact that few people, never mind women, know the great impact these two woman had on the American experiment. These woman braved ridicule, a male-dominated, patriarchal society, even death threats to bring woman to greater equality of rights. To the greatest degree, if it wasn't for them, woman would not have obtained the vote, been able to retain wages earned, their very children upon divorce, a college education and more.

Why is it that male heroes, regardless of color, are better known to most Americans than these ever important and essential female heroes?

Here is true bravery, guts, dedication, selflessness, providers of hope and prosperity to all those of the fairer sex.

Set time aside to appreciate these heroes through action and thanksgiving; even males should do so, the "others" who have benefited greatly through the efforts of these most important and brave women.

Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby

First, you're probably wondering who Larry Doby is even if you are a sports or baseball fan. He was the second black player to go from the Negro League to Major League Baseball. He is not as well known as Jackie but equally important.

Here again are two leaders, brave men who overcame the odds, prejudice, even threats to their lives to lead America to a greater fulfillment of its overall ideal: equal opportunity for all to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Here are men who overcame their fear to not only live lifelong dreams of being professional athletes, but to lead all African Americans and the white majority toward a greater fulfillment of the promises inherent in this great country. For these heroes and other men and woman like them, we owe our greatest and most heartfelt gratitude.

Mohandas Karamchand (Gandhi)

After his days toiling as a lawyer, he became Mahatma Gandhi, one of our greatest spiritual leaders.

One day while walking with a Catholic Priest on the sidewalk, they approached two white men who suggested they walk in the gutter where the "darkies" and their friends belong. Mahatma refused to do so. And just as it was about to get violent, the mother of one of the hoodlums demanded that they stop loitering and go off to work.

The priest was certainly surprised if not amazed by Gandhi's resolve. Gandhi responded to the priest's amazement by quoting the scriptures: "But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." To this the priest said that he thought that statement was more a general guideline than an actual commandment. But Gandhi said that those who follow greatness must follow the same path that the great ones walk.

Here, again, was a man of great bravery, honor, depth of character, humility, strength and resolve. His name goes down in history with others like him, others who are not simply known for great monetary, military, or political gain. These names go down in history, bigger, stronger, and more memorable for what they do is not of a temporary, worldly, or temporal nature but for time and eternity as well.

Gandhi, again and again, proved his bravery and resolve in overcoming the self to the betterment and uplifting of the many; it was a struggle but one he endured. Herein is where the great power of great leaders is often if not always found.

Martin Luther King

King is one of our uniquely gifted in mind, heart, and tongue, a great philosopher, writer, thinker, poet, a giver extraordinaire. In his intelligence, he knew how to study and who, for he too was a follower of great doers and be-ers. He didn't simply talk the talk but walked the walk. And he knew of learning from those who came before, for he was an advocate of Gandhi's peaceful protest and Henry David Thoreau's civil disobedience. He was also well aware of the philosophies and lives of some of our greatest: Thomas Jefferson, St. Thomas Aquinas, Martin Buber, Christ, Socrates, Plato, among others.

He knew how to teach himself to be inspired and guided by the best minds, those who spoke of eternal concepts, concepts that would not fail the test of time and would stand up to the lies of humankind.

He knew patience, honor, accountability, the basis of long-term solutions, lasting solutions. He knew how to read broadly and deeply and to rely on divine inspiration and guidance to fill in the gaps as no man or woman can or could ever do. He knew that life was not simply to be lived or enjoyed for the self, for he said that if one could not find something to die for then it was not a life worth living.

That is greatness defined.

Feed Your Heroes

So how do we find greatness in our lives, to go beyond ourselves to the looking of building greatness in others, even. We simply feed upon our heroes, basking in their great deeds by reading about them in detail. We turn our hearts to our great forebearers for strength, purpose, understanding, hope, desire, passion, and more.

But how do we specifically do this?

We feed upon our heroes. We feed the heroes, first to ourselves, building, strengthening, learning, earning, burning toward greater success in building meaning and depth of purpose in our lives. And then once we have that down, have ingested and imbibed to our heart's content, where do we go?

To our greater, our greatest purpose, our only reason for being.

To build up others.

So learn of the great, our heroes, and then feed the heroes to your children, family and friends, and then turn to all your brothers and sisters and feed your heroes to them again, and again, and again.

God bless.