Trainer Bob here – you may notice at the studio that in addition to all of our motivational heavy metal quotes, we have a decent amount of superhero and Star Wars decoration. To celebrate the release of the epic, long awaited Avengers: Infinity War hitting theaters this week, I wanted to talk a little about why we have superhero themed posters and equipment.
Something I have learned from the happiest and most successful people in the world is that we all need role models no matter how experienced we get. To reach our goals, we should have people who are positive influences in our lives. I don’t simply mean people who we have fun being around. We need the individuals who challenge us to be better versions of ourselves.
Sadly, too many people are surrounded personally and professionally by people who are full of negativity – negativity that suffocates us, brings us down, enables us to be lazier, to be weaker, to make poor choices. Some people just don’t have the inspiration they need on a daily basis. That’s where fictional superheroes come in – it’s an additional source to push us in the right direction. Now it’s important not to get lost in fantasy and keep yourself grounded in reality, but you also have to understand that a comic book hero isn’t as make believe as you might think. Those characters were born from a real person’s imagination. That imagination grew from a life who experienced actual tragedies, triumphs, losses, and loves. There’s so much to learn and empower us from that.
Remember that superheroes aren’t just for little kids. No matter how old we are, we all need heroes in our lives, both real and fictional, to aspire to be like. They keep us from being complacent, they keep us questioning, they carry us through horror, they make us better, they save the world.
Even though I am chronologically considered to be an adult, I am going to watch the new Avengers movie with the same swell of emotion, excitement, curiosity, awe, innocence, and hope that I did as a child wearing my red Superman cape – running around my house and neighborhood, ready for the next big adventure – I now realize that adventure is the one within myself.
In closing, here is a portion of dialogue from the first Captain America movie where Steve Rogers was chosen to be given the serum to transform him into a superhuman:
“Steve Rogers: Why me?
Dr. Erskine: This is why you were chosen. Because the strong man who has known power all his life, may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows…compassion.
Steve: Thanks. I think.
Dr. Erskine: Whatever happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing. You will stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier, but a good man.”
Even if you claim not to like superhero movies, give the new Avengers a try, you may find you relate and will be inspired more than you realize…