As a nation, we grieve for Boston.

And, as always, the reverberations of any act of violence leave us more-than-ever aware of our own mortality— of the laughability of our sense of control.

Under these circumstances, it’s hard to function.

But like so many people, I have been comforted this week by the below quote from Mr. Rogers—one which has pervaded news outlets and social media:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”

This was certainly true in Boston. In addition to the horror of what occurred, it was impossible not to feel hope as I saw people running toward the explosions.

What I’m thinking about today, however, is how often we brush off everyday acts of heroism in our lives: the person who offers to haul our garbage to the dump, or drive us to the doctor in a rainstorm, or stay up with us while we are waiting for bad news.

But I believe celebrating these everyday acts of heroism will both help us heal, and make us stronger—will help build the ‘heroism muscles’ needed should any of us ever, god forbid, find ourselves in a situation akin to what occurred in Boston.

So I invite you to celebrate the small acts of heroism you encounter daily.

Because there is no such thing as an ‘Everyday Hero’. Rather, heroes walk among us daily.

Frances Cole Jones