Heroes...?

  

What defines a hero? I think it depends on the person, what does the word 'hero' mean to each person?

To me...well, I think I probably have many heroes, almost like different categories of heroes. I have heroes that are fictional and superhuman, non-fictional and superhuman (or not, but you have to admit that would be pretty cool), and just seemingly-ordinary people. 

I am a huge fan of the comic book heroes, such as Spiderman, Batman, Iron Man, and other fictitious people with super powers (or in Batman's case, a ton of money and the willingness to fight the bad guys). I don't know if these men would be my personal heroes, but I am a fan of them, maybe not much more than that though. I don't exactly look up to them or anything like that, they're just entertaining and cool and whatnot. 

In the real world my 'heroes' might be people that I admire, that I look up to, respect. I could list various psychologists, maybe political leaders, I could also throw in some policemen/firemen/paramedics. Again, these people I hold some admiration for, but I don't feel that they mean too much to me. They are not personal heroes.

When I was into more artsy hobbies, such as drawing, I looked up to a few "mangaka" or Japanese graphic novel artists. They could be heroes, or they could just be idols. I believe there is a difference.

Maybe a hero is someone closer to me, that I personally know, and have watched face hardship, or achieve something incredible.  I think of my uncle as he battled for his life against cancer. Even when it won, he still was someone I could admire, for his bravery, and how hard he fought.

I don't think a hero is only one person to me, or even one type of person. I have many different kinds of heroes, many people that all mean things to me in completely different ways. I admire a quality in them, or I just think they are unrealistically cool.

I feel like the definition of hero varies widely from person to person, and even to a single person. There is no way I can truly define what or who a hero is, but whoever they might be, I respect them.