Searching for Heroes in Life, Vol. 2:

Chapter 1

Using the Tool of Repetition

I begin with a special reminder of why I will occasionally use the powerful tool of repetition throughout this book. First of all, in a personal way, I have learned the value of using repetition as a teaching and learning tool in sports. One of the first teachers who impressed upon me the importance of repetition was my Japanese teacher (sensei) as I studied judo, a form of martial arts during my overseas duties while serving in the US Air Force. Even after I was promoted to the rank of black belt, as a student, I was required to always repeat the basic techniques before practicing the advanced techniques.

I have adopted this teaching method over the years as a coach, teacher, and trainer in martial arts and other sports.

In fact, it has been said that if you practice anything thousands upon thousands of times, over and over again, invariably you will learn to do it better. And eventually you will create what is called overlearning, a point beyond immediate recalling.

Second of all, as a teacher, I have used this method in the public school system for nearly thirty years. I have found it to be beneficial for both the slow and fast learners. So welcome to the club as we refresh our memory concerning some key points I made earlier in Searching for Heroes in Life, Vol. 1 about heroes and why we need others to help us meet our needs in life.

Recalling Key Points I Made in Searching for Heroes in Life, Vol. 1 about Heroes and Why We Need Them

1. A basic definition of the word hero: According to The New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, Fourth Edition, (1993), a hero is a person recognized or admired for his or her courage, ability, or achievement and noble qualities in any field. What does it mean to recognize someone? Recognizing someone is an act of acknowledgment or admission of a service or achievement; to show appreciation of service or achievement.

2. Why we need heroes: Every human being has needs. Each one of us needs heroes in our lives to have our needs met, from the very basic to the more advanced needs.

3. The Maslow hierarchy of needs: According to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, there are five levels. Maslow moves from the basic (that is, the physiological needs) to the more complex needs. The following is a list of Maslow’s five levels of needs and a brief summary of each.

(1) Physiological Needs—These needs are said to be the most basic and are vital to survival: water, air, food, and sleep. Maslow believed that all other needs become secondary until the physiological needs are met.

(2) Security Needs—These are the needs for safety and security. They are important for survival but are not as demanding as the physiological needs. Examples of security needs include a desire for steady employment, health care, safe neighborhoods, and shelter from the environment.

(3) Social Needs—These include the needs for belonging, love, and affection. Maslow described these needs as less basic than physiological and security needs. Relationships such as friendships, romantic attachments, and families help fulfill the need for companionship and acceptance, as does involvement in social, community, or religious groups.

(4) Esteem Needs—After the first three needs are satisfied, self-esteem becomes increasingly important. These include the need for things that reflect on self-esteem, personal worth, social recognition, and a sense of accomplishment.

(5) Self-actualization Needs—This is the highest level of needs and refers to a person’s full potential. Maslow describes this level as the desire to accomplish everything that one can and to become the most one can be. This level of need may focus on a personal desire. For example, a person may have the desire to be the very best athlete. Another person may have a strong desire to become an ideal parent. Another person may have the strong desire to become an ideal painter. Others may want to express their best selves in painting, writing, politics, inventions, or something else. Maslow believed that to understand this level of need, the person must not only achieve the previous needs, but master them.1

I believe Maslow’s hierarchy of needs must be given much credence. I am sure you are aware that some people have become successful in life despite not having their basic needs met in a systematic way. However, it is my belief and experience that our highest form of life actualization is achieved by reaching the level of spiritual self-actualization—a sixth level of need, so to speak. This need is actualized the moment we establish a personal relationship with God, our greatest hero.

Once we reach the spiritual self-actualization level, that which is in the spiritual realm, we then have access to a level that transcends the natural realm of life. Yet, we must keep in mind that the spiritual realm can permeate and operate withing the natural realm, which includes our basic needs mentioned by Maslow.

At this juncture, some of you are aware that I am repeating some of what I said in Searching for Heroes in Life, Vol. 1. Remember that I am intentionally using the method of repetition for “slow learners” such as myself. So I ask you “fast learners” to be patient with us.

Heroes Can Come from Every Walk of Life

It has been said that if you believe each of us has been designed by God for a specific reason, then you will know there is no such thing as an ordinary person. Let me give a simple definition of a hero to underscore this very point. A hero is a person who does something for us or says something to us that encourages us to move forward in life. A hero uses his or her gifts to bless others.

As you read Searching for Heroes in Life, Vol. 2: What the Coronavirus Pandemic Tells Us about Heroes, you are going to discover how the coronavirus pandemic is highlighting a broad spectrum of heroes who many never thought were heroes before—people who help meet our daily needs, big or small, rich or poor, from every walk of life. In the process, I believe we will be moved, on an individual and collective basis, to be more grateful for the role that everyone can play in our society.

We Must Not Allow the Media and Other Components in Our Society to Set Boundaries or Establish Parameters by which We Define Heroes

I began to realize more and more each day that we humans, especially young people, are allowing the media and other components of our society to not only define who our heroes are but also establish the parameters or boundaries by which they can be defined.

As I approached my last years of teaching in the public school system, I began recognizing the importance of impressing upon my students the need to know that each one of us has the potential to become a hero by using the unique gifts that God gives each one of us.