Life Lessons from Nicholas Benedict

Trenton Lee Stewart has a way with words. Yes, Aquinnah, most bestselling authors do, you think. But Stewart is different. His books transport me in a way that is difficult to fully express. I fell in love with The Mysterious Benedict Society the moment I laid eyes on the first chapter, and The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict is still one of my all-time favorite stories. Nicholas taught me several unforgettable lessons in perspective, determination and kindness. He may be a nine-year-old orphan boy with an unfortunate case of narcolepsy, but he’s also one of the sweetest and smartest people I’ve ever met. Here are a few quotes from/about him that regularly inspire me to persevere.

“In the candle’s flickering light, the library’s thousands of books emerged from the shadows, and for a moment Nicholas could not help admiring them again. During free time he had almost never looked up from the pages he was reading, but now he saw the books anew, from without rather than from within, and was reminded of how beautiful they were simply as objects. The geometrical wonder of them all, each book on its own and all the books together, row upon row, the infinite patterns and possibilities they presented. They were truly lovely.” – The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

Like many of my favorite people, Nicholas is an unapologetic bookworm. He’s also spectacularly talented and can read hundreds of pages in mere minutes, but that aside. This particular passage gave me a renewed appreciation for libraries and now reminds me that even in the darkest of places, we may find a light. Nicholas didn’t ask to be an orphan, but since he is, he determines to make the most of it. Sometimes, books are the swiftest and most pleasant method of gaining perspective.

He knew many things now that he had not known only a short time earlier. He knew that despite all the good things happening now, John would still miss his parents, and Violet and her family would still miss her brother, and Nicholas would miss having John at the Manor, and when Violet went away to art school, he would miss her, too.

Nothing’s easy, Nicholas thought, sneaking glances at his friends, who were serving themselves more pie. But some things help. – The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

This is one of the most profound passages in any book I’ve ever read. Nicholas is a gem at the beginning of his story, and he’s a gem at the end, but somehow, he still displays ceaseless growth throughout the novel. He comes to recognize that while some things cannot be helped, other things come along specifically to help. Doesn’t that give you hope? Hope for today, and tomorrow and the distant future? There is so much good inside of us and our circumstances, no matter how bleak things look to be right now.

“In his mind’s eye, he saw his dream of a new life drifting away like a lost balloon. And for some time he sat there, hating to see it go. But then it was gone, and he began to invent a new dream, and he began to feel better.” – The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict

Insert me trying not to cry (and clearly failing because the pollen count has had me crying for two days). I so admire Nicholas’s optimism. He’s a genius and a visionary, and along with his kindness, these traits make him an unstoppable force.

There’s a quote that hangs on my wall that often reminds me of Nicholas. It says:

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
Courage to change the things I can
And wisdom to know the difference

And I think that’s the perfect quote to leave with you today. Dream on, friends.