As a kid, we wanted super powers. The imagination we had towards super human abilities, especially flight, gave us endless adventures.

We didn’t want to be rescued by superheroes, we wanted to be them. Some circumstances, however, left others jaded about the idea of fighting evil considering their situations felt beyond saving.

In getting older, the purpose of the super powers we desire shift dramatically. We no longer want super strength to fight off evil villains, but to stave off the effects of feeling physically weaker.

Our classification of villains go from tyrannical evil warlords who want to destroy the world to the neighbour who keeps walking across your yard and stepping on your flowers.

Shooting webs from our wrists seems like a waste compared to using the knowledge that built the contraption to figure out your taxes.

Then we go from wanting the super powers to just wanting to be saved. If only there was a superhero who would come and clean the entire house in an instant and do some repairs on the roof while they’re at it (my roof is fine in case you’re wondering).

The one people are really looking forward to is the person who figures out the secret to extending life and merging computers with humans (the “singularity” as Ray Kurzweil calls it). To beat death would be the ultimate superpower.

Unfortunately, the super hero we want isn’t the one that’s going to appear.

There have been so few great people in our history that have stood the test of time. These are people who have responded to the call and laid their lives down to respond to a need and changing how we see things.

Why so few?

That can be answered with another question:

Which is the more universal human trait — fear or laziness?