Heroes
December 12th, 2007 by Richard CockrumI admit it. I’ve joined a cult. Not even an ordinary cult. No. It’s a TV cult. I’m part of Heroes fandom.
There aren’t many TV programs that have caught my fancy. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Star Trek. Dinosaurs. Fraggle Rock. Now Heroes.
Heroes, for those who haven’t seen it, focuses on the lives of mutants. One can regenerate. Another flies. Yet another can teleport and travel through time. They’re like new versions of the X-Men without the spiffy costumes. In the first season they saved New York City. This season they saved the world.
Each of the heroes is uniquely himself or herself. They are by no means perfect. Emotionally, each is as human as you and I. They just have this one thing that sets them apart.
But isn’t that true of each of us? Don’t we each have that one thing that sets us apart? Like a snowflake, you fall within the general pattern that defines human, but you are each unique. Never before has there been anyone exactly like you. Never again will you come to this earth in this form. Even if could clone yourself, that clone will grow to its own unique individuality, not the copy from which it began.
It isn’t only your individuality and uniqueness that makes you a hero. It is your willingness to get up every day and live. Even when you think life sucks, and this day will suck as bad as every other day, you get up, go out, and do what needs to be done. You see the beauty in the clouds over your head. You see the smile on the face of the bag lady as she walks down the street talking to herself. You remember that she was once someone’s little girl and you smile back at her.
That is what makes you a hero. Not making a million dollars. Not inventing a brilliant new scientific theory. Not bringing peace to two warring nations. You are a hero because you have the sheer, implacable gall to do what needs to be done because you think it needs done.
You are a hero. Irreplaceable.
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December 13th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Ah, just what I needed to hear during my days of “trials and tribulations” so to speak. Thanks Rick!
I don’t know about Hero’s (haven’t had any sort of TV “hook up in over ten years now) but the other programs you mention just show what kind of person you are. Fraggle Rock? You are indeed most cool, sir.
December 13th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
You’re welcome, Kirk. It can be tough. When I was first hospitalized for Crohn’s, I spent my time setting up finances so the family would be taken care of because I felt useless and figured in a few years I would be dead. You go to sleep wondering what’s next? But then you wake up the next day and you’re still here. There’s nothing to do but get on with what needs to be done and figure if I’m going to be here, I might as well enjoy what I can of it.
I was so disappointed when Fraggle Rock stopped. I’ve got a little plastic statue of the dad from Dinosaurs. It stood on my night table for years.
December 13th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Rick,
Sorry for being away for too long man. Just tied up with so many commitments offline.
Thanks for this great post. I was also surprised you watch those programmes on TV. Never heard about Heroes as well. But I’m having a nostalgic feeling over here especially for Fraggle Rock
Keep up the great work man and compliments of the season to you
December 13th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
[…] HEROES […]
December 14th, 2007 at 12:33 am
Hi Adebola,
Life happens.
Heroes has only run a season and a half. Right now it is a victim of the writer’s strike in Hollywood, and unfortunately it showed. It had me glued to the television, though, a difficult task considering the series’ I listed are almost all that have grabbed me in the past quarter century. I don’t watch that much television. If it means anything, many of my favorite films are children’s movies, too.
Now I’m going to have to rent Fraggle Rock so I can see it again.
December 14th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
I am also not much into TeeVee these days.
This Internet of a thing has overridden a lot of interests I used to have back then.
Enjoy children movies too. I used to be a serious addict years ago.
December 15th, 2007 at 1:04 am
A good post. Motivational and soothing. Something real cool as Christmas presents for the downtrodden.
Give us more of this.
And have a merry christmas.
Abu
December 16th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Merry Christmas to you, Abu.
Motivational? I hope so.
Soothing? I hope not. I want you awake, not asleep.
December 16th, 2007 at 2:02 am
I think you know, Rick, that I’m a fellow Heroes fan… it is too bad that they had to cut this season short.
What you said about our individuality was so spot on it’s amazing. We don’t have to be anyone but ourselves… and that’s enough to save the world.
Thanks for the reminder.
December 16th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Hi Lyman!
Being ourselves is a big, big step in the direction of saving the world. In that respect, the writer’s strike could be a good thing. With reruns and “reality” shows maybe we’ll spend a little more time with our reality.
December 29th, 2007 at 10:12 pm
Richard, I like the way you think. A smile, even from a perfect stranger, can make a difference in an otherwise lousy day.
December 30th, 2007 at 2:25 am
Hello Patricia,
I like the way you think, too. Smiles do make all the difference, no matter who they’re from.
May 14th, 2008 at 1:59 am
[…] HEROES […]