Everyday heroes

ImageI can fly.

It’s a little tricky at first, and I need to watch out for power lines and big trees, but, eventually, I really get the hang of it. I take my friends with me. I can go anywhere I need to really fast. I help all kinds of people in all kinds of ways.

Generally, I decide, flying is pretty cool. That’s right around the time I wake up. It’s a dream; the same dream I’ve enjoyed occasionally for many years.

I figure it’s got its roots in watching too many superhero cartoons and movies while growing up. But, all the same, I’m still disappointed every time I wake up.

I think the true disappointment isn’t so much in the realization that I can’t fly, although I certainly wouldn’t turn down the opportunity if it presented itself. The real letdown is in that blast of understanding that I’m still pretty much the same regular guy with all the same regular talents and failures.

This might be a leap, but I’m guessing everyone has some version of that dream. It might not be about flying, but it’s probably about some glaring talent that sets you apart from everyone else in ways that aren’t as obvious to you in waking life.

It’s hard for people to look at themselves and spot the characteristics that make them unique. For some, it’s just an uncomfortable practice. For others, it’s genuinely difficult to identify anything worth mentioning.

And when it comes to showcasing whatever talents we might have at work, we all just sort of get into a rhythm. We do what we’re supposed to do, sometimes well, sometimes a little below par. We try to improve and just kind of get on with things.

But sometimes, when we see ourselves just getting the job done, others see superior performance. We don’t notice it, but the fact that others do is, in a way, like living that dream.

They see the stuff of everyday superheroes. They’re the kind of people Wisconsin Builder calls Unsung Heroes.

They probably can’t run faster than a speeding bullet. Odds are they can’t leap tall buildings. But, in their own way, they certainly can fly.