Who Is Your Hero?

Do you have a personal hero? Tell us about them. It doesn’t have to be perfect to make a difference in someone else’s life.

Your Everyday Hero: Ken G.

My dad is my hero, not just because he's my dad, but because I'm fairly certain that he's a hero to everyone he's met.

The other night he took me out to ice cream and we sat by the water talking. When I went to school the next day, I mentioned how my dad had taken me out. My friends were so 'weirded out' by this. One of them said "what do you talk about with your dad?" As if it wasn't normal to be able to carry on a conversation with my father. I suddenly realized how lucky I was to have a healthy and rich relationship with my dad. I think that he sets an example for all parents: Just because you might be from different generations doesn't mean you can't talk.

Being a doctor, my dad obviously helps people, but he is one of the most special doctors I have met. Today at lunch, on the way home from a family trip, he spotted a lady in a restaurant. He said to us "she looks so familiar." A few minutes later, he said, "I think she might have been one of my patients. No, she was my lab technician from my old job (nearly 10 years ago). She was the nicest woman ever." Though I teased him about remembering a random lady, I knew that people like him make real relationships. After ten years, he can remember people and appreciate them.

For the strong relationship we have, and the lasting relationships he builds with others, I feel lucky to have him as my dad.

Story was submitted anonymously