Oct/Nov 2024 Aspire Magazine Full Issue | Page 53

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That ’ s the bottom line of why we have superheroes , isn ’ t it ? To defend and help those who can ’ t stand up for themselves ?
Stop and think about Christopher Reeve , the handsome actor who played the title role in the 1978 movie Superman and again in the popular 1980 Superman II . After he played the iconic action figure , men around the world envied him . Women around the world swooned . And then , in 1995 , a fall from a horse paralyzed him from the neck down .
It was at that point that Reeve became a real superhero . He dug deep inside and discovered his super powers . He refused to be crushed by the loss of his he-man physique . Determination and an absolute refusal to be beaten rose up inside . For the rest of his life Reeve was an inspiration for people with spinal injuries the world over . He became an activist for human-rights causes , for artists , and for the environment . He lobbied hard for spinal injury research , as well as for decent insurance coverage for people with disabilities .

Superpowers - not what we think

Here ’ s another example : Dolly Parton , the famous country-western singer . What do you think her superpowers are ? And if you say “ Beauty and a great voice ,” I ’ m going to steer you in a completely different direction and say : “ Nope ! Vision and persistence .”
WISDOM & SELF-GROWTH
A lot of beautiful women and handsome men have great voices and never get anywhere . Dolly Parton , however , at age nine , told her teacher exactly where she would be as an adult . Not only would she be a famous singer , she would create Dollywood , one of the world ’ s finest theme parks , known for its award-winning shows and special entertainment events .
She set that vision forward at age nine and never stopped working a day until it happened . And then she still didn ’ t stop working .

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