To Become ... - What You Might Have Been

To Become ...
What You Might Have Been

While writing another scathing essay about Donald the Dumb, I mentioned George Eliot’s novella, Silas Marner. I told Ginger about memorizing one paragraph in that short novel 50-years ago while still in high school.

In old days there were angels who came and took men by the hand and led them away from the city of destruction. We see no white-winged angels now. But yet men are led away from threatening destruction: a hand is put into theirs, which leads them forth gently towards a calm and bright land, so that they look no more backward; and the hand may be a little child's.

For Silas Marner, Eppie was the little child, which led him away from threatening destruction. George Eliot’s novella is an interesting story about how Eppie made it possible for Silas to morph from a rich, old miser into what he could be.

George Eliot

However, while checking on the publishing date of Silas Marner, I came across a quote by Eliot from Middlemarch, “It's never too late to be what you might have been.”

Middlemarch

While working on this essay, I tried to find that quote in Middlemarch. However, I had never read this novel by Eliot. Therefore, I googled the quote and discovered that it wasn’t from any of Eliot’s novels.

Nonetheless, I find this quote both extremely intriguing and inspiring, “It's never too late to be what you might have been.” At one level, everyone should be fascinated by that one-liner. However, I am 74-years old and have danced with death twice and understand Eliot’s message on steroids. While I was successful while death and I danced, I realize that my life is slipping away from me to become what I might have been.

I do have some time remaining….

Therefore, it is incumbent upon me to act now and to evaluate my life honestly. I have accomplished much, but I do have a list of things that haven’t been realized. Therefore, Eliot’s quote has motivated me. Lying on my death bed sometime in the future won’t be the time to address accomplishing things. Don Quixote taught me to dream the impossible dream. Therefore, I must follow the mandates of both George Eliot and Don Quixote.

The single most important thing that I wish to achieve is to sit down with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and interview her. She has been a mentor of mine for many years. Additionally, Lady has done more for human rights and at a greater personal cost than anyone I could name in the world today. I do want to talk with her about that and discuss some ideas that I would be more than willing to attempt.

The Lady

While I continue to attempt to contact The Lady, I have other personal and professional goals still unrealized. I don’t like failing at anything, which is certainly a great motivator for me to act. Therefore, my suggestion to my readers is to make a list of goals, outline possible means to obtain them, and then rededicate your life to accomplish them. It will make George Eliot happy that you followed her advice. However, you will be happy, which is more important.