The Unstoppable Spirit of Borghild Margrethe Dahl

Borghild Margrethe Dahl was born on February 6, 1890, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Norwegian immigrants. From a young age, she faced the daunting challenge of severely impaired vision. Yet, her indomitable spirit and sheer determination allowed her to fully engage in life, defying all odds.

Dahl described her vision: “I had only one eye, and it was so covered with dense scars that I had to do all my seeing through one small opening in the left of the eye. I could see a book only by holding it up close to my face and by straining my one eye as hard as I could to the left.” Despite this, she refused to let her condition define her. She was determined not to be pitied or treated differently.

As a child, Dahl wanted to join her friends in playing hopscotch, but her impaired vision made it difficult to see the markings. After the other children had gone home, she would crawl along the ground, her eye close to the marks, memorizing every inch of the playground. Through perseverance, she became an expert at the game. At home, she would read by holding books with large print so close that her eyelashes brushed the pages.

Dahl’s determination didn’t stop at childhood. Despite her vision impairment and against the advice of many, she attended college and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She went on to teach for 13 years, lecturing before women’s clubs, and giving radio talks about books and authors. “In the back of my mind,” she wrote, “there had always lurked a fear of total blindness. To overcome this, I had adopted a cheerful, almost hilarious, attitude toward life.”

A life-changing moment came in 1943 when Dahl was 52 years old. A new eye correction surgery was available at the famous Mayo Clinic, and she underwent the procedure. Miraculously, it improved her vision 40 times beyond what she had ever experienced.

The world became a new and thrilling place for Dahl. Everyday activities, like washing dishes, became sources of wonder and joy. “I begin to play with the white fluffy suds in the dishpan,” she wrote. “I dip my hands into them, and I pick up a ball of tiny soap bubbles. I hold them up against the light and in each of them, I can see the brilliant colors of a miniature rainbow.”

Her newfound appreciation for the small wonders of life filled her with gratitude. She ended her autobiography, I Wanted to See, with a heartfelt prayer: “‘Dear Lord,’ I whisper, ‘Our Father in heaven, I thank Thee. I thank Thee.’”

I came across this inspiring story while reading the book by Dale Carnegie “How to Stop Worrying and Start Living.”

Dahl’s life is a testament to the power of perseverance, positivity, and the relentless pursuit of one's dreams, no matter the obstacles. Her story continues to inspire me, reminding me to find joy in the simple wonders around me and to always be grateful for the miracles that come my way.

Yours Truly,

The Queen Of Africa