“A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
A super spy? A wealthy, brilliant engineer, inventor, turned half-man, half-machine with imaginable powers?
What makes a superhero? Who is your superhero in your life?
My mate for this round of Coffee with John and I had talked about our superheroes, among other topics. As a community organizer, he has many stories of people becoming superheroes in their own narratives.
One story he shared with me is that of a woman who overcame nearly losing her house by taking on the lender for unfair and predatory lending practices. She went from feeling powerless as a mother with a special needs child to finding her voice, overcoming her comfort zone to tackle Goliath. Her journey forced her to do public speaking and get comfortable talking to news outlets. Today, she continues to advocate, empowering others to find their voice.
My own superhero, my late wife, faced cancer with an unwavering spirit. Even in her darkest and most painful days, she found ways to inspire and lift others, never feeling sorry for herself. Through her journey, I met a handful of superheroes who stood by our side from the start of her cancer diagnosis to the day she died. Friends and members of her extended network carried us through those challenging days, from providing a shoulder to cry on, organizing fundraisers to help us deal with medical debt to bringing us food at times when we were physically and mentally drained. In particular, her friends Maria and Becky will always be my superheroes.
I don’t know what exactly makes a superhero a hero. I know that for me has been people lending a hand without any expectations, those overcoming extraordinary challenges, individuals or communities standing up for themselves or others, and those finding ways to lift their community.
Within that definition, my coffee companion for this round is a superhero. I admire his advocacy work, honesty in handling a history of depression, and determination to use art for self-expression and to lift others. Through his advocacy and art, he is sharing stories of unsung heroes and empowering many to lift their voices.
We might not all be the best version of ourselves at all times. We stumble, we falter, and our egos and emotions sometimes cloud our judgment. But within each of us is the potential for a small act of kindness, a word of encouragement, or a helping hand that can make a world of difference, not just for others, but for ourselves. All it might take is being brave for five minutes longer than the rest.
Coffee With John 