There’s a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don’t have to be afraid
Of what you are
There’s an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away
Mariah Carey – Hero
Music the gateway to the soul, with each lyric, rhythm and melody it has the ability to alter one’s attitude. I always have a song playing in my the background of my subconscious and find music to be therapeutic. The song Hero had kept on playing over in my mind over the past few weeks. Growing up, I loved songs by Mariah Carey and clearly remember her very first song called “Vision of Love”. Although a young girl, at that time I remember thinking that this song meant so much to my spirit. After recently re-reading the lyrics of Hero, my heart was deeply moved.
Let’s backtrack; first question Who is your Hero? Is it a teacher, comic hero, family member, musician, historic or religious figure? I can name a countless list of individuals who are my hero’s. First and foremost are my parents. They left their homeland of India in the 1960’s, and headed for the United Kingdom. By the late 1970’s, with three young children in the middle of winter, they settled in Canada to start a new chapter in life. My parents had little money and friends however, built a lifetime of memories on the foundation of love. They had to make plenty of sacrifices, and leave there comfort zone. They are my hero’s for they seized opportunities and never looked back.
Historically, I have always admired Master Jesus, Mother Theresa, and Leonardo Di Vinci. They were divine beings who were ahead of their time. Collectively they conveyed messages of love, compassion and reawakening. In June 2016, my best friend and I traveled to Spain and Italy for a soul vacation “soulcation”. Our first destination was Barcelona. We were surrounded by the art and architectural influences of Antonio Gaudi, Salvador Dali and admired the modern ambiences of Barcelona. Gaudi is now added to the list of hero’s. He created a masterpiece with constructing the Sagrada Familia, and dedicated his life to having this cathedral built. His enthusiasm, passion and devotion to the divine are felt in all of his creations. Gaudi was a selfless human being who lived within his means, a life of simplicity and vision.
Originality implies a return to the origins, original is returning to the simplicity of the first solutions. —Antonio Gaudi
A modern-day James Bond 007–Bruce Wayne, a hero of mystery and stealth, can only be described as the “iconic” Batman. Who wouldn’t love this character of intelligence, sophistication, edge and charm! In my first year of university, I was introduced to The Dark Knight which depicted the life of Batman. On a whim, I had taken an introduction class to Media, Information and Techno-culture. I had no idea that the Dark Knight would become one of my favorite comic books of all time. From an early age, we see the protagonist’s desire to fight for the oppressed and challenge the corrupt. He is haunted by the death of his beloved parents and carries this grief with him into his adult years. Batman is a symbol of rebellion and justice, a self-made hero whose actions are for the city of Gotham. He is confident; single-handedly fought alone, and followed his instincts. A hero we all undeniably adore and secretly wish we could be. Ultimately, he relies on no one but himself, the hero within.
In hindsight, we are our own hero’s; all we have to do is look in the mirror and into our hearts. Take time to value who you are and affirm your greatness every day. Understand that you do not need to look outside of yourself. All heroes stand alone and have to battle internal dialogues to find the peace and salvation they are seeking. They sacrifice, struggle and lose a bit of themselves along the way. As cliché it may seem, they never give up. Life is constant ebb and flow of ups and downs, always know that you are the “Hero” which you are seeking. The hero is not on a magazine cover, television or internet, it is “YOU”. Mariah Carey’s song, Hero is a reminder to reflect on all that I have become and accomplished, to never stop believing and forge ahead.
Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with. — Brodi Ashton
Butterfly Spirit! 