When I was younger I grew fond of superheroes. They were the height of what humans needed to aspire too. Of course superpowers and advanced abilities were just spectacular but only in the realm of fantasies. However, I did secretly believe that we may be able to tap into some sort of super power too but it was more than that. It was their nobility, eye for justice and equilibrium, compassion, morality and selflessness and sacrifice.
Let’s take the all time, timeless superhero Superman. Firstly he isn’t even human; he is Kryptonian, a highly advanced race. Yet Superman aspires to human traits because he’s see our beauty. Our ability to be loving beings or our potential to be loving. He always makes the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good. He has a strong sense of justice yet always compassionate. He’s ultimate desire : Love, his love for Lois. Furthermore his complete and utter respect for his parents is admirable.
Then there is Batman. A true sense of "The Light" in darkness. Like pure poetry in motion Batman is a twist of pain and hurt romanced into a cape crusader, fighting for justice. Pointing out how everything boils down to perspective. You could take the pain you experience and turn it into reason as to why you need not care for the next or instead turn it into a deed for the good so that fewer will suffer the same fate.
Moving on to a different sort of heroes: The planeteers. Blessed by the powers of the elements, taking care of the environment from harmful human destructive carelessness. Yes, their rings give them powers to will the elements but they also practised simple basic humanity. Wise methods to respect nature and the environment. Basic traits that every me, and every you could do.
As I grew older these qualities that I looked into from the realms of Hollywood and books grew towards various other characters like Harry Potter. Yes, a majik (Majik: spelling in Wicca) wand could do the trick but Harry’s real power comes from his heart. No matter how rare the rewards may seem Harry always sticks to the roots of his good nature. He chooses to be good without the attachment of hope of anything in return. Selflessness and sacrifice being the operative words here with no attachment of gain.
Then there is the submissive hero Samwise Gamgee
Well this leads me to my favourite superhero of all time. It is someone I know in person. Someone that means a lot to me and he is someone who inspires me: Super J
What makes him so special. He has an amazing heart unlike anyone I have met. The intensity of his heart is unlimited.
See I went on a quest to better myself through the years. So I embraced myself with philosophy and knowledge and looked for inspiration. I used to be quiet naive when I was younger and when I got to Durban I didn’t have much life experience. I started working in this bar and didn’t understand that if someone kissed you it didn’t mean they loved you. That people have sex just because…Ha ha ha…sigh! Seriously though. I was a hopeless romantic and watched movies and thought love happened when two people connected after forming this amazing bond and then came the spontaneous kiss, which eventually lead to a passionate indulgence and that was the expression of love. So yeah, not very smart of me so you can image working in the only gay bar in Durban that my heart got crucified, a lamb to the slaughter. I had to focus on the building of a strong foundation for myself and so I formed a defence system. I rejected any feelings inside of me except loyalty and caring for my friends. Beyond that I pretended and would say vomit and be grossed out every time I heard something loving or romantic or felt something. It was to prevent an attachment or need.
Now years went by and I got so used to this way…but now I’m grown up and I have experience and I have no need to hide. Being used to my old way and defences I needed reformation. So I started different methods and doing various things differently.
When I started blogging, Super J started reading it and he mentioned how he would have never guessed it was me who was the blogger. I have lived with Mr Quitch for many years and he knows me profoundly but when Mr Bo Rai Cho moved in, Mr Quitch mentioned to me how the constructions of my sentences were different when I talked in front of Mr Bo Rai Cho. He say he used to wonder why everyone called me dark and scary all the time when he felt it was pretty obvious that I was actually a softy and now with Bo Rai Cho around he noticed how my approach was different. I didn’t know I was still hiding. All of these finding has only brought me now to a realisation of how distant I was from what I hold inside to what I project.
See how autopilots creep in. So I started doing things differently and hopefully I will get there.
So this brings me back to Super J. Having worked in bar and my perception on the ideal romance and peoples intention etc has warped my vision and hence my defences kick in which lead to mistrust and paranoia. But Super J defied that perception. I could not ignore his amazing heart.
Some of his superpowers and personality traits:
Well he always says hello to everyone in the room and always has this infectious smile that brightness up your day. I learnt that a smile is worth millions and that it can move mountains.
He has an amazing respect for his parents like Superman has for his. A noble quality that we often forget and take for granted. When I learnt that I was gay I distance myself from my family and became super independent in case they would have rejected me for being homosexual. I thought I needed to be independent from them in case they wouldn’t love me if they found out, so I secured myself in not needing them but only showing them love from my side. Super J reminded me the importance of one’s love and respect to his parents.
I worked in an intense environment with many people who have many different needs and different personality traits. Some are hard to understand and get along with. No matter who they are or what they do Super J is always nice to them. There is this lady that most interpret as bossy and uncaring. Let’s call her the Pirate. Although she is difficult he sometime messages her a hug because he felt she might have needed one. That’s how amazing he is. I learnt from this and now my relations with the pirate are amazing and have bloomed to such a great height. She treats me with respect and goes to the extent of sometimes parking outside my flat and just chatting to me, making sure I’m okay. She even gave me food that her mum prepared for her and we all know that when a mum prepares food for her child it is always done with the utmost love. I started to understand her and learnt that her projection was different from who she was inside and learnt to see her for who she really is. She is actually a really caring person.
Then there is Mr Soprano. He sometimes pushes Super J around and talks to him badly yet Super J still treated him to a Spa. Being a superhero fanatic I always thought you fight for the people you love and your fight for justice. This is important but knowing when and how to do this is just as important. But I realised that it never matters what someone else is doing, you just got to show them love even though. You are responsible for your actions and that is what counts. Not what they’re doing but what you do…Super J always shows and holds his respect for these people and is beyond their ways.
One of Super J’s friends hurt him really badly. When the event was occurring, Super J kept his faith in his friend even though the evidence was hard to ignore. He still believed in his friend. Even though it turned out for the worst. I admire Super J for being loyal to his friend. Having faith in someone is far more noble than going with the flow or taking the easy way out. Love is a risk and it is worth it.
Love is Super J’s greatest quality and power. He uses it responsibly and I hope that my heart could be as great as his. He is an inspiration to all of humanity and is my favourite Superhero of all time!!!!
