Ordinary Super Powers

If someone told you that they viewed themselves as a superhero, what would you assume about that person? Perhaps you would assume that they are egocentric and think of themselves as an all-powerful force to be reckoned with. The fact is that not all superheroes have villain like attitudes. Superman is an example of a good natured superhero that has admirable ideals which are widely respected by all. Despite the fact that Superman is a fictional superhero and I am only an ordinary human being, we both incorporate helping others into our lifestyles and have many unnoticed actions.

Super heroes are known for having far more daring and dangerous lifestyles than ordinary humans; however, there are still some similar features in our lifestyles. Superman seems to always find the most perilous and world altering situations to be involved in. Superman has managed his super powers and physical strength well enough to survive a nuclear blast and even save the world. I, on the other hand, am limited to ordinary human strength and tend to rely on my mental abilities. I try to help others when I come across a situation when someone is in need and I know that I can make a difference. Because I lack ‘Superman senses’ I am unable to foresee dangerous events where I can help; therefore, most of my actions are far more safe than those of Superman but do not impact the anywhere near the same number of people. Superman’s actions can be viewed as sometimes overly destructive and unnecessary. An example that shows this is when the government decided that they would not help low income housing sections unless a disaster occurred. Because of this Superman made a disaster destroying many buildings and forcing the government to help the housing projects. If I were to approach the same situation I would use a far different approach. My actions tend to be more subtle and mild mannered. I would try to approach the situation with a more civil approach that would appeal to governmental and community leaders. Both Superman and I try to use our personal strength’s to help others and our lifestyles are remarkably similar mainly due to our resemblance of values.

Just do it.

If I had to create a bumper sticker that modeled my philosophy for life, it would be "just do it." This phrase, made popular by the Nike Corporation, suggests an attitude of aggressiveness and eagerness, but can also reflect a more carefree nature. This would be an ideal bumper sticker for me because it radiates energy and motivation to others.

The energy and aggressive connotations of this phrase suggest that I am eager, willing, and ready to do just about anything. The phrase also shows that a person should not hesitate, but complete the required task quickly and efficiently. I firmly believe in working fast while still maintaining a small margin of error. The phrase also shows the side of hard work.

While backpacking in New Mexico over the summer the power of this phrase became apparent. As the crew became tired, the complaining became more frequent. With the simple use of the phrase, "just do it," the crew would respond by springing back to life in order to quickly complete the task at hand. By buckling down and working hard, rather than arguing or wasting time, a task can be completed easier and more effectively.

One of the reasons that the phrase “just do it” would make a great bumper sticker is because it displays a positive source of motivation to others. “Just do it” doesn’t mean doing senseless acts with limited thought, but making goals and figuring out how to reach them. The phrase is parallel with my ideals and mindset of helping others. If you have a great idea, let’s figure out a way to make it happen. Nothing is impossible, but if you don’t do anything to achieve your goals they will never be reached.

As my friend neared his 18th birthday he was troubled by that fact that he still had a few things to do before he could earn the rank of Eagle Scout. I reminded him of the hard work that it takes, but also of the many benefits. He knew that he needed to "just do it. " Because of my encouragement, he let me know a month later that he had earned the rank of Eagle Scout. The phrase “just do it” serves as a thought and motivation to start or continue something, whether it be a dream, hobby, or just a homework project.

I feel that these three words, “just do it,” symbolize much more than people see on Nike shirts or shoes. If a person analyzes the phrase more carefully they can easily see the deeper meaning. Most people need a little bit of motivation to get something started as well as a solid work method to achieve their goal. I firmly believe in this slogan and feel that this phrase represents me in its entirety. “Just do it” is an excellent representation of myself and how I would like others to view me.