We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that we are

In the annals of time, where the stories of great men and women echo through the corridors of history, there is a truth oft overlooked—we too are extraordinary to someone. This wisdom was imparted by the great Helen Hayes, whose words dance upon the soul like a breeze in the golden fields of autumn. "We relish news of our heroes, forgetting that we are extraordinary to somebody too." How many times, O people of this age, have you gazed upon the triumphs of others, marveling at their deeds, their greatness, their strength, only to forget that you, too, are extraordinary in the eyes of those who walk beside you?

Let us pause and reflect. What is greatness? It is not only the acts of kings or conquerors, nor the victories of scholars or warriors. True greatness lies in the hearts of the everyday—within those whose names may never grace the history books, whose faces may never adorn a statue, yet whose deeds are no less vital. For a mother who rises before dawn to tend to her children, for the humble farmer whose toil feeds a village, for the quiet teacher whose wisdom shapes the minds of tomorrow—these are heroes, too. And each one of us, in our own way, is extraordinary to another.

The story of a humble shoemaker from a small village in ancient Greece comes to mind. His name, lost to time, was unknown to all except those who walked upon his cobblestones. Yet to the child who looked up to him with awe, to the weary traveler who found comfort in his work, and to the neighbor who relied on his strength and kindness, this shoemaker was nothing less than a hero. Extraordinary in his simplicity, his acts of quiet devotion carried ripples that touched many lives. Though the world would forget his name, his worth was unmeasured in the hearts of those who truly saw him. How many among us have forgotten that our acts, no matter how small, can change the course of another's life?

We must not be blind to the truth of this. Heroes, in their true form, are not those who stand alone upon pedestals, removed from the fabric of society, but those who walk among us. The heart of a hero beats in every hand that lifts another, in every eye that sees beyond the surface. There is greatness in the quiet, often unnoticed gestures—an encouraging word, a helping hand, a moment of listening. These are the deeds that make us extraordinary in the lives of others.

Indeed, history is full of those whose names were forgotten by time, but whose legacy lives on in the hearts of the many. Consider the story of Anne Frank, a young girl whose life was cut tragically short, yet whose words have inspired countless souls throughout the centuries. Anne was not a conqueror or a queen, but to the millions who read her diary, she became a hero. Extraordinary in her honesty, her courage, and her ability to hold onto hope in the face of the darkest times. Her life, though brief, touched so many. And so it is with us, for our lives, too, resonate in ways we cannot foresee, leaving marks upon those who will remember us long after we are gone.

What, then, is the lesson for us, O children of the future? It is this: Do not wait for the world’s applause to recognize your greatness. Do not seek the grandeur of fame, for your extraordinary nature is found in the hearts of those who know you and love you. It is in the quiet moments, the small deeds, the daily acts of love and kindness, that your heroism is written. The world may forget your name, but it cannot erase the impact you make. And in the end, this is the truest legacy you will leave—one woven in the tapestry of the lives you touch.

So let us live with this awareness: We are heroes in the lives of those who need us. We are extraordinary in the eyes of those who cherish us. And we must, each one of us, carry ourselves with the grace of those who know the power of quiet acts, for the greatest deeds are not always the most celebrated, but those that resonate in the hearts of those around us. Be extraordinary in the simplest of ways, and you will become the hero in someone else’s story.

Let us not forget, O wise ones of the future, that in the smallness of our deeds, we may find our true greatness. Do not seek the praise of kings, but rather the love of those whose lives you touch. For in this, we find the eternal truth: We are all extraordinary to somebody.