What is success for you? For me its not money, thats for sure. I was talking with a friend tonight and he asked if I were doing any of the things I'm doing now a year go. Hell no, no way I was busy being trapped. I was a prisoner plotting and waiting for my escape. Feeling like shit everyday that I sat there, not knowing how to make it stop. Trapped is the best word to describe it. Then when I was released in a way that was supposed to hurt me, it was like the sky opened and the limits were lifted all in a matter of minutes. I took every chance that I had been wanting to take. It was like I had nothing left to fear, no more approval to seek, everything to be gained from trying. I became less judgemental. I decided to go on a road trip with my life.
Posted by Liz at August 15, 2004 01:10 AM| Posted by: Daniel | August 15, 2004 05:03 PM |
I've been stuck on this very same question for years now and it still bothers me today. While at one time I thought money meant success and happiness then I dropped that theory as I've known a number of miserable, lonely millionares. Does that mean that bills don't totally stress me out? Nope. Sometimes I'll see family members with their spouses and children and they seem totally content with life. Then I think... hmm, maybe that's success... then I remember how much I value my freedom and being able to follow my own hobbies on any given day well beyond midnight. So, back to the original question... I still don't know but I don't think I've hit it yet. |
| Posted by: Jeanna | August 16, 2004 12:04 AM |
Success to me is just being happy. Do things make me happy? Sure, I would be lying if I said they never did, however, I don't judge my success by them. When my nieces & nephew run and jump in my arms, a friend in need calls me when they are blue or I am having breakfast with my family, that is when I feel most successful, I am part of something so much bigger then I. I like nice things of course, I enjoy my career and I am good at it, however, I have always felt grateful of what I have and the fact that I achieved it, it isn't a jet set life, but, it's not so bad either... |
| Posted by: Tony | August 18, 2004 05:30 PM |
I agree with Jenna. When you start out you think success is things. Show and flash to prove success. But success is a relative term and the black and white of the schoolchild becomes the grey of adulthood. Is Donald Trump more successful than Oskar Schindler? They are both businessmen and one gained a lot more money than the other – show and flash, but success? There is a reason why all words associated with the self are relative, there are simply no absolutes when it comes to concepts like success, good and happy etc so we decide a personal level and when reached we say Success! Different for different people but, at least to my mind, the personal success that contributes to the world would be ranked as the best. |