We gauge the accomplishments of our lives by the great oneswho came before us. It’s why myths exist. They give us impossible goals tostrive for and allow our lives to have meaning. Nobody is complete withoutobtaining the strength of Hercules, the erudition of Plato and the bravery ofAchilles. We have to keep working, for we are always failures.
I often dwell on the accomplishments of Alexander the Great.At 23 years old, he inherited the Kingdom of Macedon. By the time he was 33, hehad conquered the entirety of the known world. His life story was so great thatit humbled even Julius Caesar. While celebrating his 33rd birthday, the then-consulof Rome refused congratulations. He had yet to overtake the accomplishments ofAlexander.
I used to think about Alexander quite a bit. He dominatedthe Ancient Olympics as a teenager. He learned from the great Aristotle.
A few weeks ago I built a virtual rollercoaster in the Xbox360 pgame Minecraft.
But now I have a new idol, a new impossible-to-achieve-imageto chase.
Last Tuesday it was confirmed that German soccer phenom MarioGötze was transferred from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich. The fee thatBayern paid was roughly 37 million euros.
Götze has played soccer at its highest level for the pasttwo years. He’s played for Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, Europe’s mostimportant club competition. He’s played for the German national team in theEuropean Championship.
Götze is 20 years old.
Götze is 6 months older than I am.
And what have I done? What can I do? Well, 2 years ago I ran a 6 minute mile. Does that count?
Back to Minecraft.
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