Hero Kings and the Lovely Life Mundane

“We’re past the age of heroes and hero kings. … Most of our lives are basically mundane and dull, and it’s up to the writer to find ways to make them interesting.” —John Updike, WD Do you agree or disagree? How do you make the mundane interesting?

One of the most wonderful things about writing is that it is all relative to the reader. Individual readers can experience something completely different when reading the same exact passage. If the writing is good, it will evoke emotions and impressions in them that are based solely on their specific experiences and interpretations. Something that is mundane to one reader might be interesting to another based on who they are and their individual perceptions. For example, a friend of mine writes a blog devoted to her life as a working mom. Her pieces are often filled with little details and insights that some might find mundane but I identify with them and often find them delightful and charming. I can relate to her life, to the challenges and also the humor of balancing a work life and raising young children.

I take issue also with Updike's assertion that our lives are "basically mundane and dull". Our lives are fluid and beautifully complex. No one lives a life completely devoid of color and character.

As far as being "past the age of heroes"...I also disagree. We have become more jaded in recent times. We sometimes we erroneously highlight our villains when we should be remembering and honoring the victims. We sometimes get lost in the issues, in the politics and we forgot our human connections to each other. Still, there are those among us who rise up and remind us that we can be better than we are. There are those who's courage and love inspire us and restore our faith in our own humanity.

These days our heroes may be brave like Malala Yousafzia, who stood up to the Taliban for the right to get an education or Nicholas Winton, who saved the lives of more than 600 children during the Holocaust. In these times our heroes may be faithful and devote, dedicated to peace like Pope Francis. Heroes are the veterans who return, injured and maimed from combat, with a new mission to turn their disabilities into the ability to inspire us all with their perseverance and determination. Heroes are single mothers who work hard to raise responsible children who grown up to contribute to society in meaningful ways. Heroes are the fathers, who like my husband and my father, instill in their daughters the respect for themselves and the belief that they are amazing gifts and they can be and do anything in this world they wish .

Hero Kings, we may have not but true heroes do exist. Just like there is beauty and wonder even in the mundane, so there are heroes to light even our darkest times.