We often look at superheroes and think they're powerful solely because of their superpowers, making them seem far removed from our reality. But the truth is, being like Superman is more achievable than you may think. In fact, this story, which is ironically centered around a garbage bag, will show you how embodying Superman's values is something we can all—and need to—do.

It all started when my mom while organizing the house, decided to pack up my jackets and store them in the attic. She put them in a garbage bag, planning to take them up later. For context, I’m very much into fashion, and my jackets irrationally mean a lot to me. They were expensive as well. So, a few days later, I noticed a garbage bag in front of me and thought, "Cool, I’ll take it out." Subconsciously, I could tell the bag felt unusually soft and didn’t seem like it contained any actual garbage. However, with my mind preoccupied by the need to get to work, I didn’t register the oddity.

When I got home, my mom asked, "Hey, where's that bag I put in front of the door?" I replied, "Oh, I threw it away."

She said, "What! Your jackets were in there!"

In the meantime, I was totally devastated, even calling my friends to see if they had any ideas. But then my mom asked our neighbor if he had any suggestions for getting the garbage bag back. As luck would have it, he had a key to the garbage container, which gave me a glimmer of hope. He was incredibly kind and willing to help. We opened the container, but the trash was piled so deep that we couldn’t reach it with our hands. My neighbor jumped into action and used a stick to pull out a bag. 

I felt a surge of hope, thinking there was at least a chance. I pulled and pulled until I finally managed to get a garbage bag out. I opened it, only to find bread, cheese and certainly not my leather jacket. My hope started to fade, but I decided to try the next bag and the one after that. I had to be extremely careful because if it ripped and my clothes were inside, I wouldn’t be able to retrieve them. So I pulled, very gently.

Finally, I pull out a bag that feels softer, I start to open it, praying the whole time, and thankfully I see my leather jacket! A huge smile spreads across my face. I thank the neighbor repeatedly because, without his help, I’d have lost jackets worth €500+. His willingness to assist, even in the rain, and his creative problem-solving mean so much to me. It’s not just about getting my clothes back—it’s about his effort and kindness that make all the difference.

So the moral of the story is: check the contents of your garbage bag before you throw it out! But what I'm really trying to say is that, at that moment, he was my Superman. What he did perfectly embodies what Superman stands for. As Christopher Reeve once said, Superman’s philosophy is simply being a friend—like a neighbor who extends a helping hand. 

 "Remember that the basic ingredient of Superman is that he's a friend. That’s the value that’s so important to me—not Superman as a muscleman but Superman as a friend: a really good neighbor. This country was founded on the idea of being a neighbor—walking five miles to lend your friend a cow or a plant or something. I just think that in this high-tech, urban nightmare landscape where people feel isolated and alone, where they don’t know their neighbors or who’s next to them, and where they’re afraid of people on the street, the idea of an early American value of a friend who is there when you need him is key to the whole character.” - Christopher Reeve

This neighbor is a perfect example of this philosophy. He could have tried his first attempt and thought, "This isn’t going to work," or simply said it was raining and he didn’t have time. But he didn’t. Instead, he went above and beyond, showing me that we should all extend our hands in times of need. 

So be proactive and ready to help where you can. If someone has a problem on the street, don’t hesitate to stop your day and make it your problem. Walk a few extra minutes with a tourist if they seem stressed about finding their destination. Ask a stranger if they’re okay if they seem distressed. Whatever it is, if it’s something a friend would do, don’t hesitate to do it!