Apparently, “Superman Day” is a real thing. Personally, I’ve never felt very connected to the idea of superheroes. So no, I won’t be suggesting we put on red capes, imagine we have magical powers, or soar through the skies to defeat villains. We also won’t be gazing upward asking, “Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it Superman?”
Quite the opposite. I believe we should set aside the fantasy of perfection and superpowers– and instead, embrace our humanity. That’s something I do connect with.
For those who may have forgotten (and understandably so, given the never-ending list of new superheroes created since Superman), even Superman has his weaknesses. His most famous one: kryptonite. That green stone from his home planet–the place where Kal-El, known on Earth as Superman, was born.
Strangely, it’s the memory of home, of his roots, of the place closest to his heart– that weakens him most. Or maybe it’s not so strange. Maybe that’s exactly what makes Superman human.
If we reflect on the things in our own lives that make us feel vulnerable, it’s almost always the very same things that are supposed to give us strength.
Have you ever wondered why a disagreement with someone close to us cuts far deeper than when a stranger skips ahead of us in line or takes our parking spot?
It’s precisely those who are closest to us– parents, siblings, partners, children, close friends– who can hurt us the most. Why? Because we don’t expect to be hurt by them. They’re supposed to be our safe haven. Our source of love, empowerment, and acceptance. So, when they ignore us, pull away, or oppose us– it stings more.
Another surprising source of vulnerability: our community. Think about the past two years. The pain of losing people we didn’t even know shattered us. The sight of the Bibas family’s coffins brought tears to the eyes of a nation. The phrase “allowed for publication” now fills an entire society with dread.
Why does the suffering of someone else affect us so deeply?
Because in that “other,” we see ourselves. When we feel a deep sense of belonging to a community or a shared identity, harm to any one of its members feels like a personal blow.
And then comes, perhaps, the most surprising vulnerability of all– ourselves.
Each of us is our own greatest source of inner pressure.
Our relentless pursuit of excellence, of success, of doing everything, of appearing confident and authentic– while filtered just enough to look “naturally perfect” but not so much that it seems fake. We chase an illusion of flawlessness, and we rarely allow ourselves to be seen in our full humanity.
Think about it: how many takes does it take to get one perfect family photo before the holiday meal? One where everyone is smiling, looking at the camera, and looking good? And what about the 20 photos that came before? the child crying, the sibling refusing to look, the awkward moments we’d rather erase…
Do we post those pictures? Probably not. But why not? Those moments are just as real, and just as much a part of who we are.
So, on “Superman Day,” I suggest we celebrate the real superpower: our humanity. The ability to be strong and vulnerable at the same time. Yes, I said I don’t really connect to the superhero concept.
But if being human makes us Superman– then count me in.
