Superheros

I grew up when the Spiderman and the Hulk were superheroes. They had superhuman powers that many of us aspired to: immortality, superhuman strength, the ability to see through walls. Batman, Captain American, Wonder Woman, and Xena, Princess Warrior, as well, were all tasked with ridding the world of the bad guys and saving us from disasters. And remember the Bionic Man and, later, the Bionic Woman? They were mere humans brought back from the brink of death and had almost-magical prosthetic devices that allowed them to seek and destroy the evil they encountered.

Sometimes, I think, we all wish there were these characters to help us these days. Or we (secretly??) wish that we were endowed with special characteristics that made us perfect, or nearly so, in some way. I suggest, however, that we all have, in some form or another, our very own super powers.

A superhero isn’t defined simply by their superpowers but by a steadfast moral code and an unwavering commitment to protecting others. True heroism is putting others’ needs ahead of your own, no matter the cost.

Those folks who first come to mind as heroes are those who protect us and our country: members of the military, police officers and fire personnel, medical staff members, and organizations that exist to ensure the safety and welfare of the general population. But I also believe that there are many other superheroes in our world, those individuals who go about their daily lives, quietly helping those around them.

Educators in today’s world sometimes bear the brunt of strong criticism because of what they don’t do, according to those who don’t completely understand the process of teaching others. But what they do accomplish is phenomenal: they provide the basis of learning for every career or job or profession you identify: doctors, lawyers, street cleaners, auto mechanics, religious leaders: each and every one of them became who they are, thanks to an educator at many levels of learning. They deserve much more respect than they are given. Thank a superhero teacher when you can. (I could write an entire column or two simply about education, but not today.)

What about those who are really good friends? You know who they are (and maybe you are one of them). They’re the ones who would drop everything to listen to you when you’re having a bad – or really good. - day or just need to rant. They never judge, they never ignore you, but you know you can count on them to be a part of your life. Superheroes all, with their superpower of just being who they are.

Or what about musicians? Listening or joining them in their music can lift your spirits, help you identify an emotion, or allow you to simply enjoy the quiet rhythm of their songs. Superheroes who reach the lives of many, or maybe just a few. . .

And don’t forget the superpower of farmers and gardeners. Besides the incredibly important superpower of providing food for us, they also provide beauty. While Mother Nature has her own menu of flowers and trees, gardeners put their special touch on their own little piece of the earth. They share the benefits of their toil by our being able to simply look at and enjoy the colors and textures of their gardens and of their very lives. Oh, the joy of simply seeing and smelling and hearing the bounty of nature in all its many guises.

These are but a small sample of the many faces of superheroes and their attendant superpowers. At the end of the day, though, I suggest that simply being you is your very own superpower. Nurture you and your inner special super-ness. Enjoy the bounty you share with others. And that, indeed, is all that matters.