Freedom demands a Fight

Arigato, Asta!!!

I love anime, the story, the visuals, and most importantly the character development. As a writer, watching how the stories and characters blend melts all my insides. I’d love to give a special shout out to one such anime and character in particular that made everything fan again.

This character is Asta from Black Glover, its about magic knights and in particular Asta who becomes a magic knight but get this, he has no magic ability. Zero Mana! His magic however, is in not giving up on his dream. Not giving up, no matter how out of luck he seems to be ge is literally about not giving up. He would rather die than give up.

Can you imagine not having an excuse to give up besides the vow you made to yourself to not? I found that deeply inspiring. Where did the fight go? Holding tightly to my dreams. MY DREAMS! The childish ones that made me so convinced they were designed specifically for me. ONLY ME.

They sound stupid sometimes, especially because, it’s not the dreams that usually are flaunted around. What happens when your ideas don’t mirror the common narrative.

So? That’s what Asta would say, followed by something corny about it not mattering that he didn’t know the answer but he was going to do it anyway. Yeah it’s just an animation, scripted and unlike real life but No, it’s so much more.

Too often I have been looking for reasons to explain why it will happen and in all honesty it doesn’t help me. I used to think having a reason for my actions would reinforce my belief, but what happens when the logic runs out and you get stuck? Best scenario you rest and reset worst case you quit. If there is no reason from my personal collection that will reinforce what I want I give up.

Freedom in terms of dreams, rights, expectations? All this will lead us into battles to test our resolve and this one character has reminded me that I don’t need a reason to keep fighting. I just shouldn’t give up, especially at the points in life that I have been building towards.

All of us go through pain, daily struggles and victories. Most of us have forgotten what our childish ambition and dreams are. We have settled to go with the flow. Fish have to swim against the flow of water or they will be led astray to their demise. There is something deep inside each and everyone of us that screams to be let loose.

An injustice that screams to be corrected, a dream that cries to be fulfilled and a limited space of time to do any of these things. If we never give up, we never lose. 50 cent’s album ‘Get rich or die trying’best explains to me what must be done. Do what your dreams require to be achieved or die trying.

For that to happen we must first start by silencing the distractions in our minds that stop us from hearing our own true voice. If we can’t clearly listen to ourselves then the doubts others have about our ability will seep in making our waters toxic. I’m beginning to believe not giving up is one of the best superpowers and I hope your lifes challenges don’t make you give up on yourself.

For all we know, we might not get another chance at being alive, may we make the most of the time here using our gifts and dreams in service of others as we spread love everywhere we go.