What Makes a Real-Life Superhero?

Each year on April 28^th we celebrate National Superhero Day, the real-life heroes and fictional.

Even though most of the ones we know like Batman, Spiderman, Cat Women, Superman, or Black Canary are fictional they are people that many grew up and saw as role models. Every kid, and even adults, wants to be just like them. Sometimes we forget about our real-life superheroes. The ones who don’t have superpowers, per se, or wear capes. The ones who dedicate their lives to helping others and saving lives.

It makes you question; What makes a superhero?

If you take a look into the fictional mastermind himself, Stan Lee, he can explain what hebelieves makes a superhero.

 “A superhero is a person who does heroic deeds and has the ability to do them in a way that a normal person couldn’t. So in order to be a superhero, you need a power that is more exceptional than any power a normal human being could possess, and you need to use that power to accomplish good deeds.”–Stan Lee

Once you take a look into how Stan Lee creates these fictional characters, you realize that he’s right. A superhero is someone with powers who uses them to accomplish something good in the world.

Now, what about real-life heroes? 

A superhero cannot be only defined by the capes they wear or by the powers they possess. They are defined by their compassion for others and how they are willing to go the extra mile for strangers just so they can protect them. Our fictional superheroes are easy to spot no matter where they are, but real-life superheroes are hidden right under your nose.

Our real-life superheroes inspire a different kind of hope for the people around them. It inspires us, as adults, to be kind to others. While it shows kids that they too can fight for their community and the people in it.

Parents, doctors, nurses, kind strangers, teachers, firefighters, and police officers are just the start of a long list of superheroes from the past, present, and future. No, they don’t have powers. Some can only offer a smile, but that smile could be the reason they saved someone’s day. Kindness, compassion, empathy, and the drive to never give up are what makes a superhero. Fictional or real.

Don’t let anything get in the way of making YOU a superhero today!