Everyday Hero Stories

Where did your values come from?

We've all had people in our lives who have made a positive impact on us. A parent or grandparent, a sibling who was there for us, or maybe even just a guy who shines shoes for a living? Whoever they are, tell us their story so they can inspire us even more.

Tell Us Your Story
ENCOURAGEMENT
"FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION...IN THIS LIFETIME!" “Failure is not an option” is a very well known quote. But my father, Mr. Edwin F. Jackson, told me after the near failure of the Apollo 13 mission back in the late 1960's that “failure has a time-line.” You have to know that my father was a true genius. He was born in 1917 and he died in 1990. He retired from...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
APPRECIATION
DAVE B My hero is named Dave. I've known him for about two years now. There are so many reasons why he is my hero. He is like a dad to me, when I'm sick he brings me to the doctor's office, when I'm hungry he feeds me, when I have a problem he talks it through with me(and always gives me positive helpful guidance). I am...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
JANET S Janet has been taking her dog to visit the residents of a local nursing home. While there, she noticed a resident's bird feeder was empty. Although it meant wading through hip deep snow, Janet began filling the bird feeder. Others found out and asked Janet to look after theirs as well. Although Janet is herself...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
DEVOTION
MOST DEVOTED MOM My mom is an amazing woman. She is 43 years old with four kids currently living at home with her. In the last four years she somehow found the time to receive a BA in psychology and is now attending graduate school, all-the-while also helping all of her kids and friends out at home. I know (and so does my family)...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
LOVE
DOROTHY H My mom is my hero. Although Mom was not highly educated (she went to the 8th grade) she had an innate sense of how to treat people - all people. She taught me about fairness, consideration for others, respect, love, integrity, kind-heartedness and the importance of staying true to your values. And, she was the...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
COURAGE
DANIEL T Our Military men, women and their families are my true heroes. My son Daniel is serving in the Armed Forces and he is currently stationed in Kuwait. My nephew Adam also completed a tour in Iraq. The sacrifice our service men and women make everyday is commendable. It's not only our service men and women, but the...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
COMPASSION
AKINYEMI L Lapinni Akinyemi began his Social Work and Community Development initiative at the age of 16 in 1990 working with prison inmates. Ten years later this passion led him to start Family Alive Network, a non-profit organization with the aim of raising young people to be global leaders and social entrepreneurs. He...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
HELPING OTHERS
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOMEONE'S STORY MIGHT BE While I was shopping in a department store, a little girl walked past me (maybe 6 years old). She had long, light red hair, a light green coat and a red and white stripped hat on. She was by herself looking at the children's toys. From the minute I saw her she really struck me somehow. I was so drawn to...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
FORESIGHT
LIFE LESSON LEARNED AT THE MOVIE Kim and I decided to go to an early show to see a new movie, thinking the crowds wouldn’t be as bad. We arrived a little early and were talking during the credits about our day. In came a young girl, followed by a man whom we thought was her father. They sat one row ahead and about two seats to the right. As they...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
LIVE LIFE
I LOVE IT UNLIMITED I LOVE IT UNLIMITED By: Marc Frederic Why wish for a trickle of water when God grants waterfalls? And why visit only the “dime store” when man’s made shopping malls? Why ask for vanilla ice cream when flavors are grand/galore! There’s not a thing wrong with vanilla, but, gee, there are so many...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
SACRIFICE
MY TWO NEW HEROES When my 16 year old son, Cayden was 9 years old, he was having some health issues that resulted in some visits to a gastroenterology and intestinal specialist. After some testing to rule out allergies, Cayden was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease termed an idiopathic disease. This...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
COURAGE
LAWRENCE G The hero in my eyes is my brother. He has been in the navy Reserve for eight years and has served two tours over seas. My brother has always been there for me my whole life and he holds a very special place in my heart. My brother at this time is over seas for a couple of weeks and my family and I are praying for...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
GENEROSITY
KEEPING THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE The generosity in me was inspired following a retreat celebrating the 2010 Lunar New Year (Chinese/Vietnamese New Year). For the first time, I started filling decorative red envelopes with "lucky money" to send to family, friends, co-workers, former lab mates, and the people around me and their (very) sick loved...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
LOVE
DAVID W My hero is my husband, David. I have yet to meet another person in this world who loves as purely and unconditionally as he does! He loves me like no one has ever loved me before. And when I ask him why he loves me so much his answer says it all, "Because I just do!" I am always inspired by unconditional love...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
HELPING OTHERS
JOE C The Extra Mile (or 20) One cold, winter evening last March after a shopping trip at the mall 25 miles from our rural home, my husband and I and our 3 kids headed home to bed after the mall closed at 9 pm. Nearing the turnoff to a long stretch with no houses or businesses, our engine started losing power and...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
COMMITMENT
GREG B If you had asked me ten years ago who my hero was, I would have definitely busted out with my mom. However, now I would have to say my best friend. I will have to back this story up to when I was eight years old. The year was 1972. One summer day there were three little boys playing across the street from my...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
DEDICATION
OFELIA R Ms. Ofelia Ryan worked at the same Elementary School I work now as an attendance counselor. I saw her dealing with parents who were very angry because she made them accountable for their children's absences. Ms. Ryan heard nothing but complaints, and in several cases she had to deal with the disrespect that...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
REACHING OUT
MY KEEPER I wanted to write this in hopes of keeping the memory of an amazing women alive. In her mid-fifties and disabled, she still was the rock of our family. Not only did this women take my mom and her two daughters under her wing (my sister and I) but she was the most generous and happy person I ever met. She had...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
ENCOURAGEMENT
LOVE BOMB I parked my car in the large crowded lot and walked toward the supermarket. A blond woman passed me pushing a nearly full cart to her car. She smiled at me and said hello. I did the same. She was a plain Jane, probably in her 40s. She reached her car and began unloading her groceries. I walked back toward her and...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
CLASS AND GRACE
REACHED OUT AND GAVE ENCOURAGEMENT The summer of 2008 was tough. I was a temp where I use to be full time so I could help take care of my dad who was stricken with West Nile. His case was different, instead of going into the blood stream the virus went into his spinal cord and brain fluid. In July the company where I was a temp truly needed...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
PERSEVERANCE
VICKI S My hero is my mom. When I was in the 4th grade, she suffered a grand maul seizure and survived. Since then, she has undergone brain surgery, medication, and is currently living with no medication because our family can't afford it. She never complains though she lives in pain. She is a mother to me a fantastic...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
DEDICATION
ROGER S My hero is my dad. He lost his job in management my senior year of high school and struggled to find a new job. He found one, working as a delivery man for a dry cleaning company. This job is a big step down from the management field, but he works as hard as he can to be the best at it and to earn the wages he...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
COMMON GROUND
HAMMER AND NAIL When our son was in junior high school, he was being bullied by one particular classmate. One day the boy actually pushed my son off a rock wall resulting in a broken arm. The school called a meeting with us and the offending boy. When we walked in, there was a policeman and the mother of the boy nervously pulled...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
HE MADE OUR DAY My daughter and I were crossing the border between Canada and the US so I could take her to the airport to return home. To our great surprise and delight the border guard who checked our passports and reason for travel was cheerful and friendly. He even admired my fake fur vest and when he told us we had to go...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
PERSEVERANCE
FANNY BALSECA My mother is my hero. She overcame depression, addiction to pain killers, and anxiety. She did this all for the love of her four precious daughters. She is more than a conqueror and she is full of life. This year, she celebrates her 70th birthday. All her friends will be present and so will her daughters and...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
HELPING OTHERS
ROY O Being the favorite of my grandpa I have gotten to spend a lot of quality time with him and have learned many valuable lessons from him as well. About a year ago my grandpa suffered from a major stroke. I will never forget when we got a phone call from my mom telling my dad that he needed to get us to the hospital...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
DETERMINATION
NADIA C When you're a young gymnast, the bar has been already set very high. Nadia was the first to show the world her perfect 10.00, not once but seven times. She makes me believe in myself, and reminds me that if only for one moment, perfection is possible.
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
ENCOURAGEMENT
MEREDITH L My wife gave up her job she loved to stay home with our kids due to educational issues. She researched an idea for two years then took it to our local school board and now is a motivational Coach for girls ages 8-13. She teaches them self esteem, self confidence, self awareness, non bullying, non cyber-bullying...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
DEDICATION
DANITA W My everyday hero is my girlfriend, my best friend, the mother of our son. I love the sound of her voice, her strength and tenacity to push forward when the going gets tough. You're my everything. I love you always and forever.
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
LOVE
DANNY F My hero is Danny and he is my grandpa. He is my hero because was always there for me. He supports me in whatever I chose to do and doesn't question me on anything. The 73 year old man is the most loving person I've ever met in my entire life! My grandpa showed enormous amounts of love towards me by giving me...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
FRIENDSHIP
TO BE A FRIEND All of my life, friends have come and gone. But the definition of friendship took on a whole new meaning when I met Evelina. Though I've only known her for six months now, she has already made a difference in my life. Nobody has ever made me feel so comfortable with who I am or shown me how wonderful life is....
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
HOPE
COFFEE ANYONE It was the morning of my mom's funeral. It was early in the morning and I am not an early riser and I don't function correctly without my morning coffee. So on my way to the funeral I went into a Starbucks to buy a coffee. I was wearing a black dress and pink legging fishnets; a lady in front of me complimented...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
FRIENDSHIP
SHEILA K My friend Sheila is my hero. She selflessly gives/dedicates her time working hard for an organization which delivers support services to individuals living with HIV/AIDS in our community. Along with her exceptional work for the community, Sheila has been an invaluable friend and support person to me. She was...
SUBMITTED BY ANONYMOUS Read Story
We use cookies or similar technologies to process data when you visit our site. This data may relate to your use of our site, your preferences, your device, or other information about you. We and third parties may use this information for a variety of purposes, such as enabling the sites to function, to personalize your experience when using our sites, and for analytical purposes. Read our privacy policy and terms of use for details. close

Reject All Accept All