Would superheroes brag if they could? Would they become boastful and arrogant if there were no moral codes instilled by their creators? Would they ultimately become power hungry murderers and transverse that fine line into villainy and into darkness?
Ultimately they are characters, and are heroic within the constraints of the fictional worlds they are placed in. When dazzled by these figures of excellence, it is easy to forget the heroes that walk amongst us every day. The people who don’t need superpowers, masks or secret lairs. They don’t fight bad guys or rescue someone from the brink of death.
The people I admire the most are true heroes. They are people who see a problem and go out to fix it themselves. They see someone in trouble and they help without question. They stand up for anyone not able to stand up for themselves. They don't sit and shout about all of their great charity work. They do what they do not because it’s easy, not because it will save someone they care about, not even because it makes it easier to pull on a night out. They do it because out of pure kindness and strength of heart.
When I grow up I don’t want to take a dive in a radioactive bath, be bitten by any sort of arachnid or even develop the ability to see through walls. When I grow up I want to be someone my son can be proud of.
When I grow up, I want to be a real hero.
Thanks for reading,
L x
One way to support volunteer heroes is to donate to the RNLI. These lifeboats are manned by volunteers who put themselves in danger to save others on a regular basis. If you wish to donate, please go to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution website and look into ways that you could help.