IBreatheSpears
Senior Don Juan
Who do you idolise? What are some characters, real or fictional, who have traits that you strive to embody?
Here are mine:
* they weren't actually married at this point, but engaged. They got married later.
Here are mine:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger. This guy has just had the best life. He started out as an amateur bodybuilder and powerlifter. Then, he moved to the US and proved that he had brains and brawn - he became a millionaire just a few years older than me, by exploiting his bodybuilding success. Then he jumped into the middle of an acting career and made even more money, and finished by jumping into a political career. He's gutsy, relaxed and funny.
- The character Odysseus from Greek mythology. He's strong and fearless but also cunning and sharp-witted. He is utterly dedicated to the pursuit of what he wants, to the extent that he spends an entire decade (after a decade-long war with Troy) trying to get home to his kingdom of Ithaca - whereupon his son helps him kill a hundred of his subjects for trying to seduce his wife.
- Hoest from the Norwegian metal band Taake. He is a talented musician and completely unafraid of the judgements of others (writing what he wants about whatever he wants, including rape and Islam). An interviewer asked him about his prior convictions (for assault) and his answer was a small smile and "The police showed up too quickly". I don't mean to glorify violence but his reaction to an awkward question was very calm and showed a strong frame. He speaks slowly and uses humour. His stage presence is almost a caricature of dominance. He seems to have built a cult of personality around himself within the metal scene in a relatively short time.
- Another fictional one; Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher books/games. The main thing I try to learn from him is not to second-guess and doubt myself. In the games, you can make a lot of questionable decisions which seem good at the time, but turn out to have been a bad idea. But the protagonist, Geralt, never once complains (although admittedly it would make for annoying gameplay if he broke down in tears every five minutes). He is always moving forwards and never loses sight of his goals. He never lets anyone get the better of him in conversation - he knows he's right and only ever allows his closest friends to tell him otherwise.
- Finally, the poet Charles Bukowski. I don't really need to describe Bukowski; instead, I invite you to watch this video*. I think he went too far, but I love the way he initially answers her backtalk.
* they weren't actually married at this point, but engaged. They got married later.
