Not all four-letter words are the kind that should make you blush when they slip from your lips.

“Hero” is one we toss around pretty freely but probably don’t truly think about nearly enough.

According to the geniuses at Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a hero is “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities; one who shows great courage.”

On paper, this definition is just a collection of words that do not really mean much. In life, these personify many of the characteristics that make individuals special.

Some heroes are easy to identify — police officers, firefighters, those serving in the military, etc. — but others are not as obvious.

We need your help in finding Jessamine County’s “Unsung Heroes,” individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty each and every day, making a true difference in the community and in the lives of others.

Odds are these men and women are right in front of you.

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. They are from all socioeconomic backgrounds and occupations. Neither gender nor race or religious beliefs or any other societal labels are relevant.

Their actions speak for themselves.

A hero may be the senior citizen who makes huge personal sacrifices to help a friend or neighbor in need.

It could be the businesswoman who burns the midnight oil in her day job every week but still finds time to be a positive leader in a civic club, church activity or other community project.

What about the school teacher who spends money out of his own pocket to ensure his students have all the supplies needed to learn? He is a hero as far as I am concerned.

Or it might be the mother or father who has always worked hard to provide for the family, overcoming some of the trying challenges that life tends to throw at you along the way.

The scenarios go on and on.

Help us find the individuals who meet these definitions and deserve this honor and recognition.

Send nominations via email to mike.caldwell@jessaminejournal.com or regular mail at “Unsung Heroes” c/o The Jessamine Journal, 507 N. Main St., Nicholasville, KY 40356.

Write a brief description of why this individual is an Unsung Hero. Nominations must include your name, address and phone number but you can request to remain anonymous when it comes to the publication or letting the individual know. Deadline for entry is Friday, Jan. 18.

We will feature as many of these as possible in our annual Thrive edition in February. It is a special project that means a lot to the community, the newspaper staff who puts months of hard work into it and dozens of advertisers who help us showcase our communities.

But the Unsung Heroes feature can make it extra special because they are the individuals you — our readers — feel deserve to be recognized.

Most of the time these men and women will say they don’t deserve any recognition. That is exactly why they do.

The Jessamine Journal wants to make sure they are not “unsung” too much longer.

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Jessamine Journal and Jessamine Life magazine. He can be reached at (859) 759-0095 or by email at mike.caldwell@jessaminejournal.com.