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I had the same initial reaction, but after having a think, its brilliant.

The problem with heroes today is that we pick them, we aspire to them, and eventually we find out they have feet made of clay.

What I took from his speech was that we should aspire to the people we want to grow up to be. We should look back at ourselves and say, “I’m a better man, and someday I’m going to be the man I really want to be.”

From my perspective, its a way to keep from developing your own clay feet. It’s also a way to keep challenging your expectations of yourself.

Everyone’s circumstances, skill sets, personalities, and opportunities are different. His outlook on ‘heroism’ is scalable. It’s a model that expects you to recover from your mistakes, and to aspire to the man you want to become as you face God on the last day.

I’m going through that right now with my inlaws - one attempted suicide, and the other is so depressed about being a burden that he is nearly inconsolable.

I watched Ghandi this weekend. I’m sorry it took me this long. I think he had a similar philosophy.

My FIL’s new job is to record or write his life story for his grand and great grandchildren. He’s lived an entire lifetime and made his triumphs and mistakes. His job now is to complete his mission as educator and reflect on his life and times.

The pity party is over, in that regard.

I’m a better man now than I was, but not nearly the man I hope to be in 10 years.

The point he made just prior to his views on heroism is key - gratitude begets a sort of virtuous perpetual motion. It impacts everyone you touch. Coupled with a commitment to being your own hero 10 years out, I think it is a replicable formula for anyone, regardless of religion.