CAPTURING THE GREATEST CASTLE OF THEM ALL

Novelist Christopher Morley once tried to capture that large phantasmagorical castle in everyone's life that goes by the name Success. He did it with a small but precise army of words: "There is only one real success anyone can achieve -- to be able to spend your life in your very own way."

Instantly the thought yanks you out from the daily din and drone of the world. It sits you firmly down in front of your own mental mirror. True, there is that loud insistent everyday reality outside of you; but inside here is where you think and feel and fear and dream. So very likely it is inside here where you must gather up what you need to capture that castle for yourself.

Everyone assaults the castle ramparts differently. At different ages and stages of their life. The young and the restless marshal battalions of education, cunning and courage to seize the prize. Older ones tend to count more on experience, patience and persistence. The elderly often are content simply to live in the comforting shadows of the castle.

Then there are those among us who choose less direct strategies. Frequently these are found anywhere from monasteries to mountaintops, from driving a cab to roaming a range, from writing the great American novel in some garret to waiting tables between Broadway auditions. These are the individualists, the mavericks, the Thoreaus. They seem to be saying there must be other castles to win other than the ones always portrayed on the picture postcards of American culture.

Perhaps this castle (or castles) is as delusional as the Arthurian tales of noble knights and gleaming round-tables. And yet, if Morley -- and millions of other reflective Morleys throughout history -- is right, the castle we call success is not captured but created. It's soaring towers, solid walls,and interior splendors must be built brick by brick with our own hands. Using our own schematics.

If so, then our castle will hardly look like anyone else's castle. Nor, in contrast to what our celebrity culture commands, will it have to. It will be a shining fortress for one! And, of course, for anyone who sees the same strength and beauty in its mists that we do. "Build it and they will come..." was the theme to a baseball movie fantasy. Maybe that's what Morley -- and those of us who vibrate to his words -- think about Success. It's for each of us to build with whatever small precious brick and mortar we have available to us.

Then throw open the gates to those who may wish to come in, without regretting that others may not....