1860. The Cooper Union Affair

Back in 1860 Then candidate Abraham Lincoln gave perhaps his most powerful speech; the speech that purportedly launched him into the presidency. The Cooper Union speech was not full of one liners, zingers, or memorable quotes. It was a powerful argument built on the core aristotelian principles of essay and argument and presented a logical combination attack to all of those who felt that slavery remained in the best interests of the Republican party and America. That speech is on my mind as of late because it isn’t the one Lincoln is remembered for. Sometimes the best we do isn’t what people remember of us. Instead they remember the things they reflect on and connect to.

Recently I’ve been considering that in my own life and my own writings. In terms of life I’m a man who separated from his wife and as such I’m not remembered by her family as the guy who always helped and was always good to the people around him. I’m remembered as the one who left. In my writing I perhaps still see myself as the guy who is going to write an epic fantasy series on the scale of Jordan or Martin. I am,  however, best known for writing Shadowrun stories.

There is often a vast wasteland between what we believe defines us and what defines us in the eyes of others. We have little control over the beliefs and definitions of others but maintain absolute control over how we define ourselves. I’ve been learning how to define myself all over again and what the best version of that self looks like and what he does. This has no bearing on how anyone else sees me, and maybe that is for the best. After all, sooner or later we all have to decide which definition is more important–ours or theirs.