The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur

November 8Turning Point

If I understand the idea, the Bazar invites several of us to write upon the above text [The Turning Point of My Life]. It means the change in my life's course which introduced what must be regarded by me as the most important condition of my career. But it also implies—without intention, perhaps—that that turning-point itself was the creator of the new condition. This gives it too much distinction, too much prominence, too much credit. It is only the last link in a very long chain of turning-points commissioned to produce the cardinal result; it is not any more important than the humblest of its ten thousand predecessors. Each of the ten thousand did its appointed share, on its appointed date, in forwarding the scheme, and they were all necessary; to have left out any one of them would have defeated the scheme and brought about some other result. I know we have a fashion of saying “such and such an event was the turning-point in my life,” but we shouldn't say it. We should merely grant that its place as LAST link in the chain makes it the most conspicuous link; in real importance it has no advantage over any one of its predecessors.

Mark Twain—“The Turning-Point of My Life” (1906)

Twain's reading requires very little reflection.

He is simply reinforcing the idea that every step in the journey, struggles included, are part of what we are meant to experience on our path. Accept that and you welcome everything with the balance it deserves.

If you stay ...