Thumbing through "The Psychology of Superheroes" took me back to a thread that has run through the interactions I have had with patients over the 40+ years I have been in clinical practice. The authors, proponents of Positive Psychology, note the absence of heroes in contemporary life and suggest current journalism exposing our sports, political and other glitterati as having clay feet. The authors review the character strengths, socialization and happiness factors reflected in the representation of superhero life.
So what has this to do with my day? I meet heroes every day. They live among us. No
costumes or outwardly obvious superpowers of flight or fight. They have the internal powers that make them strong and resilient. They have rewarding family and social interactions - they are fact, not fiction. They have no secret identity.
They are people which disease has made patients. An acute event such as leukemia or cancer has ambushed them and their families and brought out the character strengths they may not have realized was in them. Strengths that are required for survival.
Strengths that accompany patients on their final journey with grace, dignity and a lesson for the rest of us. I remember and salute you.
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