As children, we all had someone we looked up to. It may have been a parent, sibling or close family friend but there was someone who you revered. I can guarantee you are thinking of them right at this very moment. We spent countless hours hearing their stories, imagining what it would be like to be them and as we grew, we attempted to follow in the footsteps of the ones we called our superheroes. They were the greatest, and through the eyes of our fragile, developing selves we created someone who was larger than life. There wasn't anything this person could do wrong, and we knew they would never fail us. Until the day they did.
As we became more aware of the world we lived in, there were moments in our lives, some still too hard to think about, that we realized the people we had glorified, adored, and respected were nothing more than mere humans. The lens with which we looked at life was shattered, and we had to come to terms with this fact: in some way, we had been let down. Maybe it was one instant in which the choice made by our hero was something unfathomable and they somehow exhibited the traits of a villain. Perhaps it was over a lifetime, and although they never meant to they had left out something we thought critical to our image of them. To each person reading this, I know you can pinpoint the exact moment in your life when you truly realized your super hero was human, too.
I write this with tears in my eyes, thinking of an exact moment in my life. I felt betrayed, hurt, and overall confused. How could someone who had been there for me, molded me, laughed and cried with me be this sort of person, too? This was not my superhero anymore, and I was desperate to discover where they went. The more I lingered on this change, the more angry I became. I was furious. I'm sure you felt the same way; you felt tricked by someone you trusted to help you and save you in all circumstances. And finally, after months of being filled with nothing but anger and resentment, I realized something.
No, they are no long superheroes in our eyes; they are only human, however, that's what they've always been and always will be. I realized that I myself, am indeed "human." This event thought me more about myself and humanity than I could've ever imagined. I concluded that being human isn't being the smartest, the kindest, or most loyal, but simply trying our best. There will be times when I too will rise, and there will be times when I fall. Being human doesn't in any way mean becoming the villain in our stories, but simply slipping and yet still having the guts to get back up again.
It taught me not to blame and forsake the relationship but accept the fact that yeah, sometimes people screw up. We all do it, we're all going to do it, and it's just a fact of life. We will make choices that are the best for us, but maybe not for others. Whatever the case, recognize that as humans we will experience and do these types of things in our lifetimes. Now, don't get me wrong. There are things done to people I cannot imagine, and there are some things that are truly despicable in nature. However, there are also things that are forgivable, and ties that can be mended. So, I encourage those of you who have those people in your lives you have not forgiven to give them a second chance. There will always be people in your life that let you down, but the most important thing is learning to move on. Whatever shattered your image of them, no matter what it may be, know that it only made you realize what being human truly means. I realized I am human, they are human, we all are human, but that doesn't mean we can't still be super.
