Just A Cartoon: Is It?

Imagine a kid 4-year-old who is afraid of the dark, what would you do to give him courage and make him not afraid? A 22-year-old who can't even do five pushups. An 11-year-old who wastes a lot of food. ?A 16-year-old artist who easily becomes demotivated about their art. How would you inspire them to push themselves to their limits?

The simplest answer? Tell them a story. A story about a hero who was once in their place but pushed through the challenges. A story about a child whose parents died a few weeks after he was born, and whose grandfather died when he was five, leaving him all alone in this cruel world. Yet, he never cried or threw tantrums; he cooked his food, cleaned his house alone, studied alone, and always smiled. From a noob, he became a legend to whom even gods bow down their heads. He is so powerful yet so kind and innocent.

I'm talking about Goku from the Dragon Ball anime series. I first encountered Goku through a video game, Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai 2, when I played story mode. Since then, Goku has been a part of my life. But why? Why would a cartoon character matter so much? Because he taught me a lot of things that my society, school, and family couldn't. This is serious—I might have even considered suicide many times if not for these fictional characters who gave me motivation and support.

Everyone in this world needs a hero or an idol to look up to. This hero plays a crucial role in shaping one's attitude toward the future. Will you become a rapper, a criminal, kind, respectful, or generous? As children, we're impressed by characters and people, whether they're real, fictional, or even our parents.

It's not just about Goku; it's about all the fictional stories, beautiful animes, cartoons, movies, and stories out there. To all the writers and creators of such pieces, a huge thank you. These are not just cartoons, it's something that teach us the ethics of life, and the cruelty of the world. And I've huge respect for all the writers as art is their gift to the world.

However, many parents fail to realize that while they suggest taking motivation from religious stories, the problem is these stories are too idealistic. We're not gods and can never become one. We're beings full of insecurities. We can never become Rama or Krishna, or a student like Arjuna; they were too perfect. We're utterly imperfect, not pure, so we need heroes who are like us—not magically powerful, who win every time—but those who struggle, persevere, and grow.

To Akira Toriyama and all the amazing creators out there, your work has lit up dark paths, filled hearts with hope, and inspired countless souls to fight through their struggles. Your stories are a testament to human resilience and imagination. They remind us that it's okay to fall and to fail because it's all part of our journey toward becoming our best selves. Or It doesn't even matter to be special or unique. You've shown us that every setback is a setup for a comeback, and for that, you have my deepest gratitude.

You've made us laugh, cry, and cheer. You've made us feel like part of something bigger. So, here's to all the creators of these wonderful worlds—thank you for making our world a little brighter, one episode, one chapter, one scene at a time. Your legacy is not just in the characters and worlds you've created but in the lives you've touched and the spirits you've lifted. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for everything.