Angela Philipps, Contributor

Tomorrow is National Heroes Day and there's a good chance that many of us won't even stop to think about how the likes of Nanny (the Maroon) or Paul Bogle came to carry such an honour. The six men and one woman who were graced with this accolade have paved worthy pathways for us, and we are thankful to them all. However, we should not be blind to the brave men and women who might be in our personal lives today. And if you're having problems finding 'the one', perhaps you ought to be looking at these very people.

Courage comes in different forms - the little boy who saved his friend from drowning; the men and women who stand up for their communities against violent gangs; the lady who reports rape; and anyone who admits his or her mistakes and says sorry. I can tell you that as a single female, it's one of the most attractive attributes one can find in a guy. I am quite certain that other women out there are nodding in agreement. However, I wonder if Jamaican men find gutsy gals just as appealing? I hope so.

Several heroes

So where can one find one of these heroes? I've come across several, but it wasn't until recently that I realised what an impact they each made in my 30-odd years of life. And the funny thing is that all of them had similar character traits. Nothing particularly spectacular, but it's the little things which count.

Here's what to look out for, ladies:

He is more interested in your needs than his own.

He'll gladly put off a boys' night out to be with you when you're sick or lonely.

He visits his grandparents regularly.

He goes out of his way to do things for others even if it is evidently inconvenient for him.

He helps his mother.

He helps your mother.

He sticks up for you, even when you're not around.

He'll drive for miles to hand-deliver an important letter for you.

He'll give you a hug right when you need it.

He'll be respectful of your girlfriends and your friendships with them.

He doesn't patronise people.

He doesn't show off.

He will never put blame on others.

No one has a bad word to say about him.

He has patience.

Can you tick off each of these points? If so, it's highly likely that he'll do more than one courageous thing in his life. This is the man you want, girls! If you find him, for goodness sake don't let him out of your sight (I mean this metaphorically, of course!) And when you do hit upon such a person, treat him as well as he cares for you.

All men are selfish?

I know that it can be very frustrating for us all. It's not as if men of valour are flooding our streets like rain. We go out, and if we're lucky, we meet nice-looking men who give us a bit of attention, but then something always goes horribly wrong. We gather together, relating our stories to one another, and come to the conclusion that, 'All men are selfish'. This is not the case at all!

Of course, it's not much use me saying that when you're at the end of your tether in the search for a decent man. But I have to tell you that the 'Prince Charming' you're hunting for is not going to jump out of a fairy tale book and gallantly ride up to your front gate on his handsome '16-hand' horse, carrying a large bunch of red roses, a bottle of Moet & Chandon and a box of chocolate truffles. Oh no, ladies. You want a hero? Find a selfless person … then you'll have your hero.

Email: angelaphilippsja@hotmail.com