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This was supposed to be a
short piece explaining the goals that I set for myself in Korea and how
I have or haven't acheived them. But you know me, I can get out of
control.
There’s a small bar on the
edge of downtown called Chang-yi. It’s a nice little spot. In the back
of the dimly-lit bar is a small stage where musicians often strut their
talents. The only illumination comes from a small candle on each
table. And next to each candle is a blank notebook to jot your thoughts
for the next visitor to that particular table. Last time, I wrote a
Sherman Alexie quote from the screenplay for Smoke Signals: “If we
forgive our father’s what is left?” This time over coffees and rye, Rob
challenged me to write something profound. I wrote this. World
Debut, 2050: “Your Name on a Grain of Rice.” An Autobiography of the
life and times of the United Nations Secretary General, Owen Hunter
Wagenhals.
We both chuckled a little
bit.
Then we joked about silly
questions that old women in New Hampshire might ask me in my
presidential race that would be the precursor the United Nations bid.
Then we both realized that I would never be the United Nations Secretary
General.
But, you know what? With an
attitude like that, no one would become the next UNSG. So, listen up.
I’m making a decree.
I hereby, with you as my
witness, decree to make it my life’s number one goal to become the
United Nations Secretary General and live to write my own autobiography
by the year 2050.
You’re laughing. That’s
okay. You know the one thing that I remember from elementary school?
One time, I was writing out a list of goals when my parents asked my to
explain the reasoning behind this set of goals. I explained that I
wanted to set my goals low so that I could achieve them. They put a
stop to that. “You set your goals high, Owen, so that you have to
struggle to achieve them. Even if you don’t achieve your goals, you are
better off than you would have been without difficult goals.”
So you just wait until 2050.
Come that date and I haven’t been ushered onto my throne of the world in
New York City, at least I’ll know that I wouldn’t have been nearly as
successful had I not decreed my goal, to you, now. |
