We Can Be Heroes

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." 

–Margaret Mead

Lately I have developed a love for all things superhero related, from Batman to The Avengers these larger-than-life crusaders have captured my imagination. To me superheroes represent so more than just entertainment; they are reflections of who we are, who we can become.

For as long as humans have been telling stories there have been tails of legendary heroes and heroines, each culture has their own unique characters and legends. Every time period and every location where people have lived we can find examples of hero worship: from ancient Mesopotamia to medieval Europe, Native tribes of North America to Chinese dynasties. The Stone Age had stories of great hunters, the ancient Greeks spoke of mighty yet flawed demigods, the Bible contains heroic parables such as David and Noah and Hollywood continues to create hero after hero. Sometimes the heroes we know and love are exaggerated truths, others are religious icons and many are creative works of art. Superheroes are a particularly interesting type of this storytelling, they are imaginary and fantastic yet so very human at their root. Superhero comic pioneers such as DC and Marvel have created so many memorable and inspiring characters over the years, from Wonder Woman to Spiderman, Ironman to the Man of Steel himself. What draws personally draws me to the genre is the fact that these heroes fight for peace and justice because of their sense of morality not for personal gain. The powers, strengths and technologies that they use simply allow them to do more than the average person but the will to do good is what drives them.

The Captain America saga is a great example of this; Steve Rogers wanted more than anything to fight the Nazis and do something bigger than himself but his physical stature prevented him from being in the war. When Steve eventually received his powers of physical strength and agility his will to fight for freedom had not wavered, he put on the suit and assumed his alter ego of Captain America. Wanting to do good is not something only reserved for the heroes of fantasy however, each of us can make a difference. We may not be able to scale tall buildings in a single bound but by devoting time and energy to the important cause of helping others we in turn become heroes. Doing a few good deeds in a harsh and uncertain world may seem pointless but a small step in the right direction is a step nonetheless. Every action that leads to someone's life being a little brighter has impact, meaning.

Wish kid Miles A.K.A Batkid. Check out the amazing story here.

It is never too late to change, to care and to lend a helping hand. In the Ironman series, Tony Stark started out as a narcissistic billionaire who profited from warfare but after experiencing his own near-death brush with violence decided to help others instead. Tony used his wealth and intelligence to perfect the technology that had saved his life, creating the iconic Ironman suit in order to save other's lives. The decision whether to help or to hurt is your choice alone. These days it can be easy to focus only on those who seek to do harm but we must not forget all those who work each day to make the world a better, safer and happier place—the everyday superheroes.