My "Heroes Journey" Hero

In this world, it’s a wonderful thing when you come across a true hero—someone who steps up for others, with no expectation of anything in return. I was lucky enough to meet such a person recently.

It was a beautiful afternoon, and I was out paddleboarding in a bay in Turkey. The wind was gentle, the water as smooth as glass. I was gliding along with no particular destination, just enjoying the simple joy of moving across the water.

But then, everything changed. The wind suddenly picked up, and before I knew it, I was a long way from the boat I had set out from. I tried to turn back, but the waves and the gusts had other plans. No matter how hard I paddled, I couldn’t turn around. Desperate, I tried paddling backwards towards the boat, a good ten minutes away—but I was making no progress. Panic started to creep in. No one on board had noticed, and the waves were beginning to crash over the paddleboard.

Then, out of nowhere, a young man appeared in a dinghy. He had seen my struggle. Without hesitation, he pulled alongside, helped me into the dinghy, grabbed my paddleboard, and took me safely back.

I was so grateful—and yes, a little embarrassed I hadn’t realised how quickly the conditions were changing. But he was nothing but kind, brushing it off as though it were nothing. And before long, I saw him again—this time helping two kayakers who were also caught in the wind.

That’s what a hero looks like. Quiet, generous courage. A willingness to act when others are in need. If I’d had a Heroes Journey STAR t-shirt with me, I would have given it to him on the spot.

Because he represents exactly what Heroes Journey is all about.