Your Heroic Heart #9: Fire
Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things. Anonymous Andrew Carnegie was thirteen when his family moved from Scotland. After they settled in Allegheny City, Pittsburgh, he earned $1.50 a week, working twelve to sixteen hours a day in a cotton factory. About thirteen years later, when drafted into the U.S. Army during the Civil War, the young man paid $900 to have someone serve in his place. [A common custom back then.] $900 in 1861 would be $32,250 in 2024. While working his way from messenger to secretary to telegraph operator, Carnegie built contacts with wealthy businessmen, like B. F. Jones, founder of the steel mill where I eventually worked. Another was Colonel James Anderson who allowed Carnegie access to his private library. Inspired by the Colonel’s kindness, Carnegie vowed to build as many libraries as possible, to give poor youth chances to develop their minds. Between 1883 and 1929, over 2,500 were built. At one point, Carnegie said, “It is now thirteen years since I ceased to accumulate wealth and began to distribute it. I could never have succeeded in either had I stopped with having enough to retire upon, but nothing to retire to.” One activity he retired to was the creation and endowment of the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. It exists to honor and support heroes and their dependents, including, Harry Amster of Clarkdale, Arizona. The meat dealer was 23 on April 27, 1915 when he tried to rescue toddlers from a fiery, wood frame house. In Sylvania, Georgia, Quillie Addison [a 36-year-old janitor], saved William Z. Kemp from a home so engulfed in flame, no one else would enter. When a 3-inch pipe carrying natural gas erupted, Matilda Aloisio offered her hand and foot to pull Henry Green from the pit of ten-foot high flames. Nominate a Hero. COMMENT. Myths tell of gods creating starry constellations for heroes The word comes demi [half, unfinished, almost]-god and to watch over, to protect. Imagine a world where everyone goes to bed a hero. A “Random Act of Kindness” will do, as in this post’s video [below]. What a world! Giving Tuesday The goal is heroic, whether to make someone smile, help a neighbor or stranger, show up for an issue or people we care about, or give something to those in need. Every generous act counts. Tuesday, December 3. Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. Krispy Kreme’s Butterfly Effect Click Here to View [5 minutes] When Chris Rosati was diagnosed with ALS, he sought to make other lives better. Through November 7, Save 30% on Photo Books. Discount Code: PBGIFTS30 Few remain who experienced an old-time steel mill’s awesome, harrowing and magical world. As a young mother, I worked at Jones and Laughlin Steel’s Pittsburgh Works during its heyday when over 10,000 people struggled and snoozed, played pranks and died in that fire and brimstone world. I saw the last steel poured inside those bleak walls. Steel Genesis Memories of Metal and Metal shares some of my experiences. The books are 8×10, 50 pages. Two versions are available.: HIGH-QUALITY HARD COVER. Printed on Premium Lustre Paper. Normally $125. Through Nov 7, $87.50. See book. SOFT COVER. Flexible and sturdy, high-gloss cover printed on quality paper. Normally$69. Through Nov 7, $48. See book. Shop All Radiant Tree Books Thanks !
Your Heroic Heart, Facing Lions & Grizzly Bear
I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people. -Maya Angelou Andrew Carnegie was born in Scotland, the second of three children. When he was 13, his family borrowed from a maternal uncle and moved to Allegheny City, now part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Growing up in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie attended the Free School in Dunfermline, founded by Adam Rolland of Gask, a philanthropist, judge and co-founder of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. When young Carnegie reached the United States, he stopped attending school and studied people, like his mentor, Thomas A. Scott of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. After selling his steel company and becoming one of the world’s richest men, Carnegie worked at distributing his wealth. One project remains the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. As stated in his Deed of Trust, Carnegie wrote, “I have long felt that the heroes and those dependent upon them should be freed from pecuniary cares resulting from their heroism.” Here are two honorees: On February 9, 1940, Joseph R. Arcans faced down five lions at Clyde Beatty’s Circus in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Arcans was an animal trainer. While dressing for a performance, the small man heard a commotion and found five lions attacking a man who’d entered their space. Arcans grabbed a 2×4 and kept beating the lions. Even after his stick broke, Arcans kept chasing the lions until all fled. On October 1, 1971, in Edmonton, Alberta, Malcom R. Aspeslet rescued a co-worker from a huge grizzly. With a small knife, Malcolm climbed atop 800-pound bear and hung on, while his scalp was lacerated, his ears torn off, his arm broken. Nominate a Hero. Myths tell of gods creating constellations for heroes . Some stories say heroes’ eyes become stars to watch over loved ones. ‘Hero’ comes from ancient words meaning demi [half, unfinished, almost]-god and to watch over, to protect. Imagine a world where everyone goes to bed a hero. A “Random Act of Kindness” will do, as in this post’s video [below]. What a world! Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Pen Pals Meet after 56 Years Click Here to View 2 minutes From ABC’s “America Strong” series, here a 7th grader’s kindness to a stranger wound up being incredibly powerful. Through Radiant Tree Books, SucceedandSoar.com, and her Fine Art collections at SandrasArt.Pixels.com, Sandra Gould Ford [a former steelworker] creates and presents art for healing and high achievement, to lift hearts and spirits, awareness and humanity. Shop All Books Thanks !
Crushing Conditions
I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance. — Pablo Casals The “Your Heroic Heart” series is inspired Succeed and Soar’s August 21, 2021 post. There, Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time.” After the Carnegie family left Scotland in 1848, they settled in Allegheny, now part of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There, Andrew and his father worked in a cotton factory. The teenager would have worked 12 to 16 hours a day. and earned—at most—$1.50 a week. In time, the bobbin boy became one of the world’s wealthiest men. He invested much effort and resources into ending West Indies and Asian colonization. When the United States bought the Philippines from Spain for $20 million [over $757 million in 2024 dollars], Carnegie offered to purchase the islands for the same amount to assure those people’s freedom and democracy. Six years later, Carnegie dedicated a fortune to honor, “deeds of heroism where men or women are injured or lose their lives in attempting to preserve or rescue their fellows.” For their actions following a 1954 sewer excavation cave-in, three men were honored by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. In trying to rescue Richard Fisher, who’d been buried to his neck. 20-year-old construction worker Nicholas A. Bruno, was the first to swing over the edge, followed by Arlin Vance and John Weaver. Within 30 seconds, a second, massive section of earth shoved shoring and timbers forward. Bruno, seven feet below ground, was pinned between the shoring and sustained severe internal injuries. 27-year-old John Weaver was caught at the hips and legs. A worker atop the wall freed him. Weaver suffered a fractured pelvis, torn muscles and bruises. He was disabled nine weeks. A timber pinned Arlin G. Vance’s legs, but he freed himself. With others, Vance raised some shoring and sawed away other portions. Vance’s chest and shoulder were wrenched. After two hours , Bruno was freed. Fisher had died of suffocation. Bruno was rushed to a hospital but died of his injuries the following day. Six months later, and two days before Thanksgiving, 27-year-old Alden Hartz rescued a woman who fell into a hole 70 feet deep. Catherine Murphy had been crossing a field that collapsed into an abandoned coal mine. Because the hole’s sides were unstable, others wouldn’t enter the cave-in. The 72-year-old woman had been half buried, and died two days later. Hartz was shaken but recovered. Nominate a Hero. Myths tell of ancient gods placing heroes among the stars. Some stories tell of heroes’ eyes becoming stars to watch over their children. ‘Hero’ comes from ancient words meaning demi [half, unfinished, almost]-god and to watch over, to protect. A “Random Act of Kindness” qualifies, as in this post’s video. Imagine a world where everyone goes to bed a hero. Wouldn’t more monuments honoring these kinds of heroes be great? Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. Stranger’s Gift Inspires Grieving Widow Click Here to View [2 minutes, 36 seconds] As a young mother, I worked at Jones and Laughlin Steel’s Pittsburgh Works during its heyday when over 10,000 people struggled and snoozed, played and died in that fire and brimstone world. I saw the last steel poured inside those bleak walls. I watched those miles of cinder and char change as new life evolved from the mill’s ashes. Steel Genesis presents images and experiences of making steel, the metal and human mettle. Book Details: High quality, soft laminate cover. 50 Pages. 8×10, $69. Preview. Hard Back, printed on Premium Lustre Paper. 8×10, $125. Previews. Shop All Radiant Tree Books Thanks!
Your Heroic Heart, Money Multiplies
The “Heroic Hearts” series is inspired Succeed and Soar’s August 21, 2021 post. There, Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time.” How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time. –Morgan Freeman On March 12, 1904, in New York City, the Deed of Trust created by steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie opened, Gentlemen: We live in a heroic age. Not seldom are we thrilled by deeds of heroism where men or women are injured or lose their lives in attempting to preserve or rescue their fellows; such the heroes of civilization. The heroes of barbarism maimed or killed theirs. * Carnegie then created a fund from which “the heroes and those dependent upon them should be freed from pecuniary cares resulting from their heroism.” One of the first awardees was Richard X. Hughes of Bangor, Pennsylvania. Hughes was 42 and working in a slate quarry. Hughes sought shelter when an explosive blast was set then noticed John R. Owens had been blinded by burning powder and both could not find his way and stood near a cliff. With his own life in danger, Hughes ran from his safe place and carried Owens from harm. The 10,000th Carnegie Hero was Vickie Tillman of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On February 19, 2017, Tillman stopped her car and called 911 when she saw Billy A. Aime being assaulted and bloodied, resulting in a concussion. The 56-year-old cafeteria worker next left her car and jumped on the attacker’s back to keep him from grabbing the police officer’s gun. She then restrained the assailant until help arrived. [The lady looks pretty petite in this picture.] ‘Hero’ comes from ancient words meaning demi [half, unfinished, almost]-god and to watch over, to protect. A “Random Act of Kindness” qualifies, as in this post’s video. Imagine a world where everyone goes to bed a hero. Found Money Multiplies Click Here to View [3 minutes, 50 seconds] A child finds money in restaurant parking lot. How he spends the windfall snowballs. First aired March 29, 2014 COMMENT. This month shop Succeed and Soar art on towels. Details: Luxurious, brushed microfiber 100% cotton back for maximum absorption Top of towel has image, back of towel is white Three sizes: Hand towel 15” x 30” Bath towel 32”x 64” and Bath Sheet 37” x 74” Machine wash cold, tumble dry at low heat Personalized art arrangement Place vertical or horizontal on towel Change size and position Select from dozens of background colors See all towels. Shop all Fine Art America Collections. Thanks.
Your Heroic Heart #1 – Debut
Updated March 30, 2024 The “Heroic Hearts” series is inspired by Succeed and Soar’s August 21, 2021 post. There, Eleanor Roosevelt said, “We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time.” Heroes are the ones who inspire us to be better, to do better, to live better. – Anonymous In 1904, Andrew Carnegie created a Deed of Trust that began,We live in a heroic age. Not seldom are we thrilled by deeds of heroism where men or women are injured or lose their lives in attempting to preserve or rescue their fellows; such the heroes of civilization. … I have long felt that the heroes and those dependent upon them should be freed from pecuniary cares resulting from their heroism, and, as a fund for this purpose, I have transferred to the Commission five million dollars of First Collateral Five Per Cent. Bonds of the United States Steel Corporation. One hundred twenty years later — with a cumulative inflation of over 3,000 percent — Carnegie would have launched the fund with $173,267,977.43. The first honoree was Louis A. Baumann, Jr. who was 17 when Charles Stevick called for help while drowning in an abandoned farm’s deep ravine. The record reads, Baumann immediately dived into the pond, but when he reached Charles, Charles grabbed his leg. Baumann broke free and returned to the bank to regain his breath. He swam back out and dived for Charles, then took him to the surface, but Charles again grabbed Baumann, and both submerged. Again Baumann broke free and returned to the bank. A third time he swam out to Charles, that time managing to get Charles close enough to the bank for the other boys, who formed a chain, to drag both from the water. All survived. On August 9, 2007, Connecticut State Trooper Nicholas P. Leary rescued a woman from a burning building in Danielson, Massachusetts, without either the training or equipment. After crawling into the woman’s burning bedroom, she was rescued as flames breached the apartment’s walls. Leary donated the financial grant that accompanied the Carnegie Medal to The Jimmy Fund of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brookline, Massachusetts. ‘Hero’ comes from ancient words meaning demi [half, unfinished, almost]-god and to watch over, to protect. This definition means we can all be heroes, often. Imagine a world where everyone performed such a deed daily. Not much is required. A Random Act of Kindness as in the video below will do. What a life! How will you become a hero each day? Succeed and Soar! Sandra Gould Ford Presenting arts experiences to encourage, refresh, enrich creative thinking and inspire. COMMENT. A Random Acts of Kindness Click Here to View [90 seconds] In this ABC News “America Strong” with David Muir that aired February 20, 2024, see how Dollar Store pajamas turned a school bus driver into a hero. This Month, Shop Inspiring Succeed & Soar Posters Sizes from 8”x6.5” to the popular 30” x 23.5” Four Shape Options: Natural, Vertical, Horizontal and Square Printed on acid-free paper with archival inks Includes 1” white border to allow for future framing and mounting View All Posters Thanks for shopping!
Best Friend
Before we can make friends with anyone else, we must first make friends with ourselves. — Eleanor Roosevelt “Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery, by doubling our joys, and dividing our grief,” said Cicero. Shakespeare wrote, “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” Jess C. Scott added, “Friends are the family you choose.” VeryWellMind says, “Friendships can enrich your life in many ways. Good friends teach you about yourself and challenge you to be better … Some research even says friendships are just as important to your well-being as eating right and exercising.” Psychology Today adds, “Friends are often soulmates. Recognizing each other on a soul level helps us spiritually … When you had an anam cara, your friendship cut across all convention and category. You were joined in an ancient and eternal way with the friend of your soul.” LonerWolf suggests twelve ways to create an anam cara, a ‘soul friend’ inside, including: A random act of kindness for yourself each day and seeking solitude. LifeHack suggests: Focus on your strengths Write your success stories Read more Here are more Best Friend resources: What really constitutes an online friendship: [includes link to “4 Types of People You Should Never Friend on Facebook” Be Your Own Best Friend Worksheet. How to be a better friend Making good friends How to make friends Remember, How many slams in an old screen door? Depends how loud you shut it. How many slices in a bread? Depends how thin you cut it. How much good inside a day? Depends how good you live ’em. How much love inside a friend? Depends how much you give ’em. — Shel Silverstein Succeed and Soar! Four Days Left. Each November, Succeed and Soar’s readers are invited to keep these inspirations glowing and growing. Think of this once-a-year contribution as a subscription. [So far this month, $0 has been invested.] Pitch in Here. Thanks! Let’s enjoy 40 minutes sharing uplifting, enlightening Succeed and Soar conversation, Thursday, December 2nd, 7pm [US East Coast] Included can be this month’s special book. The New York Times calls Ivan Doig’s Last Bus to Wisdom, “an enchanting 1950s road-trip tale that swaps Kerouac’s Sal Paradise for a plucky 11-year-old named Donal.” See you soon! Image @ canstockphoto.com Eleanor’s Insights Succeed and Soar’s “Eleanor’s Insights” series is illustrated with photographs of ‘wild places.’ Art is available as prints, framed and on canvas as well as on journals, greeting cards, weekender bags, shower curtains, puzzles and much more. Shop Here