The real heroes are those of us who endure.

The Russian writer Chekhov said, "Any idiot can face a crisis. It is this day-to-day-living that wears you out." I think what he meant was that any of us, given a certain situation, could race into a burning building to save a child screaming from a second-story window or drag a driver from a car about to explode after a horrendous wreck. Adrenaline alone might provoke us to rise to the occasion and be heroic, if just for a few minutes.

It's the daily drag of family and job and just living that's hardest of all and that so many of us do, without much thanks, for most of our lives. And while the vast majority of us take it for granted and just do it, day after day, that's what makes civilization work, what makes society click.

When we were young, we all had ideals we aspired to -- running for Congress, writing a great novel, finding true love, raising perfect children, owning a yacht -- but, as the years go on, most of us have to settle for something less. The true test of character is how we adjust to reduced expectations. Okay, so I'll never be President -- or even president of my bank. Maybe I won't own that yacht (or even that new Lexus). Maybe I won't compete in the Olympics, even though I was a really fast sprinter in high school. (Or not: let's be honest.)

Life is all about diminishing expectations, but it's also about new opportunities. When I was in sixth grade, I tried out for choir and was soon singled out as the one voice in the group that didn't fit and was sent back to my classroom. At the time, I was crushed. I didn't know I couldn't sing!
It took a long time for me to get over that, but, in time, I realized that I had other talents that weren't recognized in sixth grade. I could write. Maybe another person in the same situation would realize that he/she could draw or paint or organize people for a cause or work on cars or catalogue information or any number or other things that could make a life valuable.

It's a cliche, but every time a door closes, a window opens. You may not have demonstrated any talent in school -- may even have dropped out of school -- but may turn out to be a wonderful parent or a super real estate salesperson or a great teacher or at least a steady wage-earner at a job you don't like but that you keep because you know your kids are depending on you. Born rich or born poor, we all face a challenge: make it or not, do it or not, stay with it or give it up.

The true test of a person is not the exploitation of a particular talent but the perserverance of will: our ability to live life as it's given to each of us, day by day, against all odds, maintaining our values, living them and passing them on to our kids, being good citizens, obeying laws, voting our conscience. Voting at all, as a matter of fact!

In the end, it's all about putting bread on the table when you'd rather spend it on beer. Taking a menial job instead of resorting to petty crime. Spending time with family when you'd rather spend it somewhere else. Making Christmas special. And birthdays. Putting those important to you first and you second. Making your spouse or girlfriend/boyfriend feel special, even when you're mad at him/her. Sucking it up and realizing it's not just about you.

It's hard. Really hard. Sometimes almost impossible.

But it's what keeps us honorable. And it's what makes families work. Democracy, too. It's what we're all about. It's why we're here.

All power to those who accept their obligations, who endure, against all odds. Here's to us!

Long may we wave!