I relate myself to a superhero all the time in my head. Ha ha. This sounds really arrogant now that I say it out loud, but really the tales in the worlds of Marvel and DC must strongly resonate real life so that they remain relevant and relatable.
But what about when the hero falls?
I watch a lot of Superhero films and TV shows, and I have drawn a distinctive parralel between the two worlds.
I have noticed that these days the superhero rarely works alone. In the new TV series like The Flash and Arrow, they have a team working behind the scenes, guiding them to crimes, keeping the tech and suits working, problem solving.
Our real life adventures are the same. We have a support group that we go to for the day to day running of our lives, the ones who help us in our missions, who keep our secret identity from the rest of the world.
They are also the people who are there when we are defeated, and every superhero is defeated from time to time.
In my case I was on top of my game, my blog was coming on great, work was good, my family life was brilliant. I was working out regularly and even Mrs Bergs mum was relocating from the Isle of Man to live round the corner.
But as that added a new spot to our roster one of our other team members dropped out.
Sadly my Nana, our beloved Nana Jean passed away. It shook us all. Suddenly I felt unmotivated, to work, to write, to work out, to be positive. I just had a sinking feeling of helplessness.
I didn’t want to do anything, and the longer it went on the harder it felt like I couldn’t go back.
As a family we have never felt so overwhelmed. Defeated is exactly the right word. Neither Mrs Berg or I could get our spirit back, against a stack of housework, against a never ending schedule of appointments and lessons, we were useless. Even when our grief had lessened we had an enemy of a backlog to get through.
With the heroes down it was time for our team to step in and help us up. Like Dr Snow and Sisco on the Flash, or Felicity and Digg on Arrow our team came in to inject us with confidence once more. For Mrs Berg it was her Mum and partner, that stepped in. Where Nana Jean had been an expert in household chores and gardening, Mrs Bergs Mum filled her spot and soon helped us recover our home from the backlog and provide support to my wife and myself.
For me it was my parents who helped me. I work with my mum and feel very lucky for doing so. As I get older I realise how important it is to spend time with your parents and it is a privilege to be supported everyday. She saw my decline, despite being upset herself and intervened accordingly, taking over my workload at work, building my lost confidence back up. She really is brilliant and am so thankful for her help. Despite always knowing the support I have, in true dramatic form my confidence was restored when my mum climatically said “you have us to watch your back”. The line was straight out of a Flash episode and with that I boldly, slowly rose, hurt but focused, dusted my shoulder, and walked slowly out to defeat my enemy.
Both me and Mrs Berg hold the stubborn opinion that we can firmly do it ourselves. But like with every experience we have learned something. That you can’t always do it alone, and nor should you have to. Humbled by our experience we now receive help from our family and friends who support us and make up our superhero support team.
Berg
Bergs Place 