Light In The Darkness

Everyday Heroes

Sometimes, I see life in black. Losing hope in the face of what the world is becoming every day. My heart hardens and I tell myself that you have to be tough to survive the harshness of this world.

No matter how hard you try to stay away from the newspapers and TV, it’s almost impossible to escape all the mortifying information that crosses the globe.

Here you are, quietly trying to survive, and every day you’re bombarded with some terrible news. Sprinkled with monstrous inflation and political instability.

Over the last few years, the quality of life has deteriorated dramatically. In my town, you can't even find a place to live unless you pay crazy amounts of money for rat holes. We (as a society) are experiencing a slow but steady race to the bottom.

We live in a permanent state of pessimism, inherited from a society wounded by the last difficult years.

It’s a downward spiral we seem to be witnessing as passengers on a plane that’s inexorably going to crash. The only unknown is when.

But maybe it’s not all doom and gloom. Maybe it’s only dark because we’re not shown what we should be. A depressing atmosphere fuelled by the media.

Recently, I came across a trend that put a big smile on my face. Little videos featuring everyday humans turning into heroes with an image of Superman in the background.
Through acts of kindness, goodness or bravery… sincere and spontaneous.

Humans helping other entirely anonymous people, often taking risks, to protect their brother and sister in humanity.

Heroes, like this hair stylist, standing by her patient.

Or this man risking his life to save another.

Humans who don’t make the headlines but who are true heroes of our species.

Perhaps this trend is exactly what the world needs. Caught up in constant politics, policies and wars, this trend shows us that total strangers can stand together.

Every day, we’re reminded that humans are capable of the worst, and no one reminds us that we’re also capable of the best.

Like this man who didn’t hesitate to climb a building to save a baby.

We’re not destined to tear each other apart. We love each other. It’s our default mode, right out of the factory. Babies don’t hate each other.

For a long time, I thought Superman was a boring character, always stuck in a biased thought system where he always wants to save everyone. And I was wrong. That’s exactly the kind of hero the world needs today. 

It’s easy to be good in easy times. It’s hard to stay that way in a world of horror that pushes you to become selfish and cynical.

Our epoch has never needed so much sunshine, good vibrations, love and hope.

And maybe the change starts with us. Maybe we shouldn’t close our hearts and this is the best time to open them. Because the world desperately needs it.

There are so many positive things we can do that don't cost us anything.

Everything may well be sinking into the darkest darkness. 
There’s nothing to stop us remaining a shining light.
A Starman.