Everybody’s searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfilled my needs
A lonely place to be
And so I learned to depend on me
I decided long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I’ll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can’t take away my dignity
~ Whitney Houston
Most people look up to their older siblings in almost everything. Older siblings made sacrifices for their younger ones. They protected and stood up for them. You didn’t have to fight for anything once you had a big brother or sister. If you got into trouble they came to your rescue. If you got into a fight and got beaten, you run home quickly to inform your elder brother or sister who went with you to show your beater what it means to meet his/her meeter.
But when you get a brother or sister who, rarely made sacrifices, and instead of beating your beaters resorts to beating humanity out of you early in life, be sure they’d do even more terrible things to you later life if you’re not lucky, that may be the reason Whitney Houston underscores the need for independence and self-reliance in the line: “I decided long ago never to walk in anyone’s shadows”.
What was your experience growing up? Have you had anyone stand up for you?