Happy Monday awesome soul :) let’s have a small chat shall we? I want to let you in on something, I hate stereotypes… with a passion. I actively battle stereotypes simply because they are nonsensical and limiting to the awesomeness and freedom and right we all have to be who we truly are… On a related note, this brings me to Superheroes :) What comes to mind when you envision a superhero?
Most likely one of the above. And rightly so, because we have been conditioned by the media to see superheroes like this. Let us pause to reflect some more. What qualities does a superhero have?
- Strength
- Power
- Agility
- Superior aesthetic qualities (beautiful/handsome/muscular…)
- Young
- Able-bodied
Life Lesson 9 - Redefining Superheroes
The list above makes me cringe. What message are we getting and what message are we giving to our children? Are these the qualities that make a superhero? And what about those who do not measure up to these standards? I remember watching the transformation of Captain America and shuddering! So here is this ‘regular’ man who, on being transformed into a superhero emerges from the machine muscular and more assertive and more handsome than before. What scenes like this actually do is programme our mind to perpetuate stereotypes. We learn that this is what a hero should look and be like, that a ‘regular’ person simply does not measure up.
Well…today I want to invite you to redefine superheroes. I want to tear down those stereotypes and show you a new kind of superhero! So please let me introduce you to my kind of superhero and draw up a brand new list of what makes a superhero in my world.
They are the ones who don’t wear a cape… look around you, I bet you’ll see some yourself, walking around in plain clothes or in uniform. I have been fortunate to meet many superheroes in my life. One who fought illness head on and transformed her life and those of countless others. Another who faced addiction and rose from the ashes to rebuild his life. A woman who did not let her disability disable her and thus champions others to do the same. Someone who had an unspeakable childhood grows up to help others who are suffering from the same traumas. That single parent who greets her children with smiles and cuddles hiding her suffering. The list goes on… but since you don’t know these people, here are some well-known people who make my superhero list:
Jose Mujica – former President of Uruguay and the world’s poorest president who donated 90% of his salary to charities.
Malala Yousafzai – human rights activist for education and for women in her native Pakistan.
Stephen Hawking – physicist and director of Research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology within the University of Cambridge.
Rosa Parks - known as the 'first lady of civil rights' because she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a bus.
Nick Vujicic – evangelist and motivational speaker.
My list of superheroes goes on and on, Mother Theresa, Nelson Mandela, Anne Frank, MLK Jr. None of these people fit the criteria above. By Hollywood standards these people are nobodies… and yet they have transformed humanity! So let us redefine superheroes shall we? How about:
- Overcoming adversity
- Standing up against oppression
- Perseverance
- Humility
- Kindness
- Compassion
- Resilience
You see, my friends, with this new vision of superheroes, we can truly appreciate each other. Imagine a world where instead of glorifying the external characteristics of a person, we would be in awe of the greatness that lies within that person, simply by virtue of them being human… simply by virtue of them trying their utmost to live life in the best possible way, overcoming adversity, being an inspiration, working against all odds for the goodness of humanity – this is what a real superhero is in my eyes.
And guess what? I suppose that if you look within your heart, you’d find such qualities in you. And thus, I name you too a real life superhero for overcoming that thing you thought you couldn’t, for your resilience; and for not giving up! You don’t need a cloak, it’s there within your heart – be a superhero and applaud the superheroes around you :)
Let’s try this out shall we? Today look out for a superhero – your spouse, partner, child, colleague, neighbour, anyone! And when you see one, let him/her know that they are heroes. Let’s spread the love and redefine superheroes <3
Blessings from Ella