Happy Friday.
I have missed writing and happy to be back. We all have heroes in our life. Some of us consider our parents, siblings, friends, co-workers, or other people in our community (especially now) as our heroes.
Heroes are the real people that we know, follow or are inspired by through their story. They have faced disappointment, hardship and failure…and yet appear to somehow “keep moving forward”. They find a higher purpose, help others and never lose hope. They are passionate, gritty and persevere. They experience the hero’s journey.
![How Tony Stark Could Return As Iron Man In The MCU How Tony Stark Could Return As Iron Man In The MCU](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb4f5c70e-e8d5-4f6f-91d5-ec3905f31b6b_1920x1080.jpeg)
DID YOU KNOW?
In the early 1960’s, Stan Lee’s original story of Spider-Man was rejected and did not want to get published.
In 1978 Michael Jordan did not make his high school varsity team because he was not as tall as his classmate 6’7’’ Leroy Smith, who was selected instead as the only sophomore on the team.
At age 22, Walt Disney was fired from a Missouri newspaper because he was told he “lacked creativity.”
JK Rowling’s first marriage imploded, she was jobless, a lone parent, and as poor as it is possible to be in modern Britain, without being homeless.
In 1985 Steve Jobs - the guiding force at Apple from the beginning - seemed not just expendable but a threat to the company he’d built, so he was fired.
The Hero’s Journey
Joseph Campbell, who died in 1987, is best known for his advice to “follow your bliss” and his most important cultural contribution is what he called “the hero’s journey” in his book, a Hero with a Thousand Faces. This journey is a 12-step path and isn’t just for classical heroes, but for all of us. It is, essentially, a path of maturation that all of us follow.
![The Hero's Journey The Hero's Journey](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F232d9f32-016a-411d-9f44-ffdf1b010b51_1024x770.png)
Campbell’s influence can be seen in two of my favorite movie series of all time - Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe which happen to be the highest grossing film franchises of all time. Of course, I love the excitement, adventure and action scenes. Most of all, it’s the story that moves me. The story about the hero, their mentor, their challenges, and their redemption.
While Yoda was Luke’s mentor training him not only with a physical instrument (a lightsaber), but also a psychological commitment (to be a Jedi Knight) and a psychological center (the Force), according to Campbell.
![What if Luke Skywalker STAYED on Dagobah to Complete His Training ... What if Luke Skywalker STAYED on Dagobah to Complete His Training ...](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F13301307-5587-4778-9e31-0565422dc481_1280x720.jpeg)
Similarly Nick Fury was the MCU mentor, created by Stan Lee, who provides a prophesy that a team of super-powered individuals (The Avengers) can work together, defeat Thanos and return the Elixir (Infinity Stones). Just as Lee created this hero’s journey in MCU, he also lived through one himself. His stories may never have been told if he did not overcome his own challenges.
“Stan, that is the worst idea I have ever heard…First of all, people hate spiders, so you can’t call a book Spider-Man. Secondly he can’t be a teenager—teenagers can only be sidekicks. And third, he can’t have personal problems if he’s supposed to be a superhero—don’t you know who a superhero is?” - Stan Lee’s publisher in 1962
Thank goodness Lee did not give up and was able to create heroes that were so relatable and authentic…like us.
Spiderman was a shy and nerdy high school student without many friends
Iron Man is rich and successful, but he experiences panic attacks and relationship issues just like everyone else
Captain America is a scrawny kid with a heart of a lion and the will power to do whatever necessary
![Avengers: Endgame Fan Notices Captain America's Shield Apparently ... Avengers: Endgame Fan Notices Captain America's Shield Apparently ...](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Faf6d0445-2109-437e-857e-ee8744b7fc9b_1280x718.jpeg)
If you take a step back and think of all the things you’ve accomplished by now, the way you managed to overcome every situation that almost made you quit, and the kindness you’ve shown to others, you’ll come to realize that you’re the hero of your own story.
“I can do this all day” - Steve Rogers, Captain America