Life of Joe

The title of this post might immediately turn some people off.  Sure, Batman has recently become a cultural phenomenon over the past few years with the success of “Batman Begins”, and “The Dark Knight”.  But, ultimately the character is synonymous with comic book geeks.  Something that most people won’t take seriously, or even consider relevant to every day life.  

I think I see the story of Bruce Wayne/Batman from a different perspective than most.  To me, it isn’t a story about a superhero, billionaire vigilante, fighting criminals and super-villains.  What attracts me to the story is not the billionaire lifestyle, or the gadgets and technology employed throughout the series.  Rather, I’m attracted to the story as a whole, and the moral question it raises.  Which to me is, “If something that tragic happened to me, would I have the ability to shape my life in the way Bruce Wayne did?”  In case you’re unfamiliar - Bruce Wayne’s story.

What I love about Bruce Wayne is his incredible ability of self regulation.  Each of us have an opportunity to choose between the right and the wrong in any given situation.  Not many, if any at all are life or death situations. But, subtle instances where our self control gets called into question occur daily.  While the lines between right and wrong may be grayed in many examples, more often than not we can still see those lines.  What defines us as a person, for better or worse is our choices in those moments.  (Do I sleep in, or get an early start on the day?  Should I go to the gym, or should I keep watching TV?  Should I pick up food to cook for myself, or should I run to McDonalds to get something quick?)

I feel I relate to the character on many different levels, but it’s this character attribute I admire the most.  I would even use the word idolize.  Last week,Reece slept at my apartment on Long Island for the night after a late club lacrosse game in Massapequa.  The next morning I think he was a little weirded out by the fact that I turned on “Batman Begins” while I made my bed and prepared for the rest of my day.  ”Do you turn this on…”, “Yea, everyday.”  I interrupted him.  ”I want to be Bruce Wayne, man.”  While I know it’s a little weird, and I’m actually embarrassed to admit it, I do it to remind myself to continue to do what I think is the right choice in any situation.

Bruce Wayne’s superpower is the power of self control.  He continually chooses what he see’s as the right choice.  And lives by that choice more adamantly than anyone else.  He’s a testament to what a person can become if they continue to choose the same choice over and over again.  The right choice.