Dude, where is my superhero?

We all love superheroes. From the friendly neighbor "Spiderman" to ever-so-angry "Hulk", our admiration for superheroes has not failed to dissipate since the creation of superheroes. Maybe it is a human nature to always long for an omnipotent and omniscient figure that can help us when are in need. Maybe that's why we invest so much of our time and energy into fictional superhero characters as an attempt to bring our wildest dreams into reality. But as you can see, superheroes are just mere reflections of human imagination, it is human creation that does not exist in reality. Though, I have enjoyed most of the superhero movies that have come out during my life time. When I was a kid, I fantasized over the idea of becoming a superhero myself. I think we all have dreamt of having some sort of super power and becoming a superhero to save our world. You know what? Maybe some of us still do. No matter how old you are, no matter where you come from, no matter who you are, if you are a human being with a kind heart, you would love to save the world. 

As I grew older, I could not help but confine myself in the reality that I have established based on the more mature understanding of the world. I could find myself scoff at the idea of becoming a superhero or even accepting the existence of a superhero in reality. As my skepticism grew larger, I began to question the true meaning of superhero. According to a dictionary, a superhero is "a benevolent fictional character with superhuman powers, such as Superman." In real settings, that would loosely translate into somebody that has superhuman powers. And the definition of superhuman powers can vastly differ based on perspectives as well. I guess that's why we cannot disregard subjectivity to define superhero. In my subjective point of view, I look at the whole concept of superhero as a metaphor. Not a single superhero is the same and not a single one of them hold the same power and ability, which is just like us, every single person is unique in their own way and utilizes different powers and abilities to make the world a better place. In my world, there are several people that I would consider superheroes. The ones that have saved my world with their superhuman powers. 

Once I contemplated deeply about the true meaning of superhero, I came to a realization that it is not Superman, Batman nor Ironman that saves my world, but it is just an average woman that asks help from me more than I ask her. She has been by my side from the moment I was conceived and she has never stopped loving me since. Without her, I would not have been born into this world. Without her, I would not have known where to go when I was lost, what to eat when I was hungry and what to do when I needed help. She taught me how to eat and drink. She taught me how to walk and talk. She taught me what love is. She taught me how to live. She often tells me that I am the reason why she lives now. But isn't that exactly what superheroes do? sacrificing their lives for someone? That woman is my mother. My superhero is my mother. My mother dedicates her life to me. No one else fits into the definition of superhero more than my mother, not even superheroes. 

It is a human nature to long for an omnipotent and omniscient figure that can help us when are in need. But we already have superheroes that are greater than those in fictions. It does not take a tight suit and magical powers to become a superhero. What it really takes is love and actions that show other people how much we love them. Because that is much more difficult than fighting Thanos for six stones. I'd like us to take a moment and reflect on our behaviors. Have we been more excited to see fictional superheroes in Marvel movies than our own superheroes that saved our lives with their unconditional love? Have we been too busy with our own lives to appreciate our own superheroes? I bet the moment you walked out of the movie theatre after watching a superhero movie, you either thought to yourself or said it out loud that you "loved the movie and the superhero" but when was the last time you expressed your love to your mother or your superhero in real life? Let's think about it. And let's not bother asking, "dude, where is my superhero?" because your superhero is right in front of you.

SeungMin Baik (1806188281)