Don Quixote, Forever
I will never finish the book; I don’t want to finish it
In the summers, when I travel, or whenever I travel, I do not leave home without a copy of Miquel De Cervantes’ timeless classic novel, Don Quixote. I know on the road when I get a free moment I shall relax and read some of it. I have been reading the book for over 15 years, and I know I will one day finish it. Yet, maybe I won’t.
I am fine with that. There is something about the book that is so magical, so amazing, so full of life, and the thrill of life, I have no care for finishing it though I always plan to finish it when I start reading it again.
It is hard to describe my obsession with Don Quixote.
The story is simple: Don Quixote, a middle-aged gentleman, half out of his mind, and delusional, from the region of La Mancha in central Spain, becomes so obsessed with ideas and actions of knights and chivalry, he decides to become one. Eventually, he convinces the humble and devoted Sancho Panza to accompany him on his mad adventure.
Now tell me that is not all of us. Who doesn’t want to do good? Who doesn’t want to experience life on the edge struggling for good with someone else? But most of all, who out here is not almost mad crazy every day?
I know I am. It feels good. If you are not in the space Don Quixote is each moment you aren’t trying. You are just existing. And no one wants that. You want to live.
So wherever you are and whatever you do, put on your armor each day, and become a knight and go find your reason and purpose and chase it like Don Q. charging a windmill. Bring along your Sancho too so they can experience their own glory. This is the endless tale of us all.
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