Looking to refresh my memory before watching steel ball run wanted to go down and slowly rewatch each parts of JoJo’s bizarre adventures and while I was at it decided to take notes on the things that picked at my interest and blog them, so here we are once again me trying to over philosophize.
In the world of Golden Wind, Mista’s philosophy is born from a moment of pure chaos. When he was 17, he stepped into a hail of gunfire to save a woman, and despite the odds, not a single bullet touched him. That “certain incident” taught him a chillingly beautiful truth: Your path is already drawn.
Most people spend their lives “stalling” or taking “detours” shivering in fear of what might happen. we learn from Mista that overthinking is just an invitation for fear to enter the heart. If the destination is fixed, then worry is a waste of energy.
Epictetus, a man born into slavery who became one of history’s greatest minds, once said we are all just actors in a play written by someone else. Our only job is to play the part well.
when we stop fighting the “detours” and accept that the path is moving forward regardless, we find the same “slick” composure Mista has under fire. We stop being victims of our destiny and start being its master.
These ideas resonate because I am currently wrestling with my own fate. I find myself resisting my natural path, attempting to steer toward a destination of my own making instead of accepting the one that is meant for me.
Remember that thou art an actor in a play, of such a kind as the teacher (author) may choose; if short, of a short one; if long, of a long one: if he wishes you to act the part of a poor man, see that you act the part naturally; if the part of a lame man, of a magistrate, of a private person, (do the same). For this is your duty, to act well the part that is given to you; but to select the part, belongs to another.
- Epictetus, The Enchiridion1