Growing up, did you ever sense that some of your childhood friends just had something that no one else had? That they had an inborn sense of their worth, their ability, and what they could do? Or perhaps that quality wasn't there from birth, but because of the way they were brought up and because of the attitudes they had been constantly subjected to all their lives, they seemed, well, better than most kids?
I realize that literature characters like Francisco d'Anconia are, well, literature characters and thus fictional, and that perhaps I should talk about realism here instead of fantasy idolatry, but man, do I like that guy.
Even though he's not a guy, but a fictional character that only exists in literature.
I don't care.
One must have idols, heroes to emulate, characters to be inspired by. Or so I personally think - although I have to admit that if I really wanted to be like Francisco, I should consider myself my own hero and idol, like he probably does.
Anyway.
Some people have this inborn-seeming confidence and sense of self-worth. Like Jay Gatsby, they consider themselves a son of God, destined for greatness. They see the world as their playground. Questions like how do I find myself or how do I reinvent myself never pop into their heads.
They know who they are and what they want, and they go after it without questioning the morale of or reasons for their desires. They don't stop to question themselves; they don't look outside for validation of themselves or their goals.
The irony is that you can't just decide to become someone like this; it has to be inborn.
So... all you need to do is to be born again?
RK out.
