Hero Worship

hero {he’ro} n, pl. –roes 1 any person, esp. a man, admired for courage, nobility, etc. 2 the central character in a novel, play, etc.

Heroes shouldn’t be real people. Heroes should be mythical beings or, if not mythical, then perhaps simply an extraordinary being. If you have the opportunity to meet your hero, don’t. They will only disappoint you.

How one chooses their hero is unimportant so long as they follow the one and only rule of hero worship. It is best to encourage children to choose heroes they do not know but whom they wish to emulate. Family members, friends, acquaintances should of course be avoided. Choosing a familiar hero not only diminished the status of Hero, but also sets the child up for heartache and sadness. The age old tale of the person who meets their hero only to find they are an abhorrent human being is recited frequently and should be used as a cautionary tale. It is most probably true. On the off chance you meet someone who has met their hero and was not disappointed, you should remind yourself that they are the exception not the rule.

One should never meet their heroes.

In the chance that you are an adult and only now learning about this rule, you would be best advised to change your hero if they are someone whom you know. This may prove difficult depending on the length of time said person has been your hero, but I assure you it is for the best. Instead of a father or mother or brother or sister, choose a historical figure; perhaps one that is already dead. This will ensure you have little chance of meeting them. A President, an athelete, a movie star, a scientist, a writer, a painter, a candlestick maker. Any of these would make for a fine hero. Of course, as with anyone in the public eye, there may be some information that is objectionable about them. Keep in mind that they are dead and therefore you cannot know their side of the story. Imagine it is myth. In any case, what ever they have (or have not) done, it will not have been aimed directly at you so you are still safer from disappointment then if you had chosen someone you knew.

One should never meet their heroes.

Maybe this sounds cynical and cold hearted. Maybe it is. What chance are you willing to take with your hero? Should they not always be kept in the highest regard? Would you be willing to risk the repercussions of an actual person turning out to be the opposite of whom and what you thought they were? Would you even know if you are capable of overlooking such a thing? The answer is: probably not. As humans we believe our heroes to be infallible, unable to disappoint. In which I answer: see above.

One should never meet their heroes.