More Heroes...

It seems like every month brings a new superhero blockbuster film.  Men and women, young and old, head to theater to see superhuman face seemingly insurmountable evil. Many times, these stories follow a very predicable path, recognizable as "The Hero's Journey" or mono-myth, as discovered and popularized by Joseph Campbell. 

The Hero's Journey is a powerful awakening for many people who come across it and, if you aren't aware of it, you should definitely look at it in much more depth than I can get into here. What I've found is that this formula not only exists at the heart of almost every fictional story in some way shape or form, but it lies directly at the heart of every action and adventure film. 

One of the most interesting things to me, however, is how it completely also is resonant with how our own lives work. These stages are seen (many times as metaphor) as we follow each new call to adventure ourselves. Perhaps I'll begin doing a daily breakdown of the journey for you when I can formulate my ideas well enough to do so. 

My point this evening is this: The reason that we as a culture seem so enamored with super hero films is that we, in some way, identify with them. Sure we wish to possess their secret powers, but more so, to live that life of adventure. To be, as we think, signifigant. Then, we eat our popcorn and go have dinner at Red Robin, placating ourselves and falling back into the sleep of the mundane. 

I say screw it. Why not make your life a glorious adventure?: Why not travel to Asia and study martial arts from a secretive master? I'm not saying it's the right thing for you to drop everything and go. But what I am asking you to do is to look within. Find the places where these stories resonate with you. Then, find a way that makes sense to act on it. 

​This world needs more heros. Less spectators.