the superheroes who live amongst us
are you one of them?

there are many circumstances in life when you will probably see different people in different lights. the times when you see exceptional heroes rising up are in times of desperation and frustration; and when they do appear, their presence simply assures and matters. i wouldn't say i have a niche at identifying them, but they do exist at close proximity around all of us. they are normal beings with extraordinary minds.

i met a few over the short weekend. one left an indelible mark in my memory. you see, every year at this time you will probably see me holding up a big bag; and no, they don't contain books that i have to read nor is it presents that i have received. it is a bag full of mid-autumn "goodies" that i will have to sell to raise funds for ove (haha, now you know).

this person isn't exactly the kind of person that everyone will look for when he/she needs help. perhaps everyone sees the cheeky and goofy side of him more than what you will read about later. to be honest, he did gave me surprise with his gesture. as you know, i am a terrible saleswoman. when it comes to sales, i will either force-sell something or i will just "bao" it myself (cos i don't really dare to earn people's money). so, i kind of just shoved my mini-mooncake to a few people's face and expect to chop chop deal the sale.

when i did that to him, he just gave me a pretty reluctant face. he took out his wallet and picked out a S$2 note. i was already more than happy to say thank you when suddenly he put it back again. puzzled, i reached out for that S$2 note and told him it was the right amount. but guess what he did? he took out a S$5 note and said "this is for your overseas volunteering exp right? take it". for that moment, i was taken aback. i rejected and said that it was okay; but he pressed that S$5 into my hands and said "just take it".

you may think that it is a small matter, but it meant a great deal to me. and this isn't even his only giving story. these people are like superheroes in their own little ways; though hidden and at times, unseen, they play their roles in the best way they can; even without the just credits. there are of course, many other stories of unsung heroes; this is just one of many.

i hope this story has inspired you to buy the mini-mooncake from me (haha). remember it is for a good cause whereby you can contribute to our volunteering expedition to a less fortunate country. it is a baby step to a big vision!

but of course, this aside, start being a superhero to the people around you. lend a listening ear, talk to an old lady sitting alone, buy a packet of tissue from a visually-impaired and perhaps, sayang the irritating little girl who has been crying nonstop on the mrt train. the world needs superheroes; and what's the best thing? there's a superhero in all of us.



thanks wenqi!