Welcome, new readers! Please check out the "about" pages linked up top, and please help me reach my goal of an undetermined number of feed readers by an undetermined date by subscribing!
Don Quixote and Debt
Finding myself time to ponder whilst sitting in a tent last month, I realized I had just finished reading Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and didn’t have another book lined up to read next via the Kindle app on my phone. On a whim, I chose Don Quixote, and it brought to mind the following quote which I’ve been keeping in various profiles and “about me” pages for a few years:
It is easy to see, that you are not used to this business of adventures. Those are giants, and if you are afraid, away with you out of here and betake yourself to prayer, while I engage them in fierce and unequal combat.
Immediately it brought forth a lovely allegory to the adventure against debt. One who fights tooth and nail to climb their way out of the hole attacks with the same conviction as an old man charging at windmills upon the steed Rocinante, whereas one who cries bankruptcy runs along much too late only to learn of their utter defeat, as Sancho Panza did, left picking up the pieces.
Do I mean to say that those of us working our way to a debt free life are delusional, certainly not. We are filled with courage, knowing that as long as we set our mind to it, have a plan, and follow through, we can do what many others believe is the impossible, all the while knowing full well that we aren’t just tilting at windmills.
Popularity: 2%
Related posts:
Did you enjoy this article? Please subscribe to Debt Sucks for superior enjoyability!
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Well said, the battle against debt can be very overwhelming. Keep up the good work, everyday can be a success story.
Your post reminded me of the one key secret to getting out of debt. Will. Will power, just like in a diet, is what is needed. The will to stay on budget, the will not to buy those extra things, the will to purchase “needs” and not “wants”.
I’ve never read Don Quixote, but I do know about the attacking the windmills thing. What’s next on your book list?
A great metaphor. I think instead of thinking of us as delusional, you might think of us as a bit confused or not-quite-all-there-yet … but we’re still fighting, indeed!
I love the use of “the fight” to describe your debt situation. I, myself use the “road less traveled” to describe mine. Full of twist and turns, not to mention the unknown. More importantly is the fact that you need a map to navigate your way down this road. My map is my budget.Without it I am lost. Call it the GPS of my debt solution.