my relationship with God, my family and community. if these are good, i'm a success. while money is nice, i've seen more than i can count who lack for nothing monetarily and are miserable beyond understanding.
Life is a series of good times and bad. If you can look back and say you made others lives the richer for your having been a part of their lives, I would say you would be a success. The nice thing, of course, is that there is no right or wrong answer. We each a criteria that makes sense to ourselves. I feel blessed that I was able to raide two sons and provide for my family.
I guess when I say "regret", I mean "I wish I had [fill in the blank}'ed" or "I really wish I hadn't robbed that bank and spent 40 years in jail. That was kind of a waste of my time."-kind of regret. Stuff like that!
That’s a tough one, so many things mark a successful life. Not too be overly hokey, but for me it’s a character thing. It doesn’t matter how rich someone is, but are they a decent human being. I know that’s subjective, but you know it when you see it.
Stan, Character -- good measure. Almost without exception, the "high character" people I've met had made a real impact on the world around them. The "low character" people tend to fade away into an unhappy existence.
So far, I think I'm a pretty good husband and the best dad I can be. If my wife and kids say I'm great-I'll consider myself a success-just don't ask them on a bad day. I'm a work in progress-does it ever end? I mean the work?
Monica, I think there is definitely something too that. Most people follow the paths that are set for them by "the system," and they are never happy with it. But the people who've broken out of that and done the things they wanted to are much happier. Kind of a personalized Ayn Randian world!
I agree with everyone above. But let me add that I really like these questions. They give you a chance to stop and think about things you wouldn't normally think about.
I agree with most everyone. I think that success in life is a personal measure, but making life better for everyone around you is probably a really good way to measure success.
And funnily enough -- my "word verification" word for the this post is "carma" LOL.
I'm a big believer that you get back what you put out there. :)
Crispy, I think that's true. You see it in all facets of life -- the more you put into something, the more you get out of it. So I don't see why it isn't also true for life in general.
my relationship with God, my family and community. if these are good, i'm a success. while money is nice, i've seen more than i can count who lack for nothing monetarily and are miserable beyond understanding.
ReplyDeleteMoving out of San Francisco.
ReplyDeletePatti, They say money can't buy happiness. . . though I'd still like to test that to see if that's true! But then I am a cynic! ;-)
ReplyDeleteLawhawk, I must admit that I feel pretty good about not living in San Francisco. :-)
ReplyDeleteandrew: oh, i'd like to try too. alas, alak....
ReplyDeleteWell, Patti, we can dream!
ReplyDeleteLife is a series of good times and bad. If you can look back and say you made others lives the richer for your having been a part of their lives, I would say you would be a success. The nice thing, of course, is that there is no right or wrong answer. We each a criteria that makes sense to ourselves. I feel blessed that I was able to raide two sons and provide for my family.
ReplyDeleteJed, I think that's very accurate. There really is no single definition of success, and what we think of as a success really is up to us.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I think you give a very good definition -- making the lives of those around you richer.
If you get to the end of your life with as few regrets as possible, then you are a success...
ReplyDeleteAnd being filthy rich wouldn't hurt either! ;-)
Bev, I've always heard that the more things you regret the more you've lived? Hmmm.
ReplyDeleteI guess when I say "regret", I mean "I wish I had [fill in the blank}'ed" or "I really wish I hadn't robbed that bank and spent 40 years in jail. That was kind of a waste of my time."-kind of regret. Stuff like that!
ReplyDeleteI see. So you don't regret robbing the bank, just getting caught? Ok, then I agree with you!! :-)
ReplyDeleteHealthy, wealthy, and wise!
ReplyDeleteThat’s a tough one, so many things mark a successful life. Not too be overly hokey, but for me it’s a character thing. It doesn’t matter how rich someone is, but are they a decent human being. I know that’s subjective, but you know it when you see it.
Stan, Character -- good measure. Almost without exception, the "high character" people I've met had made a real impact on the world around them. The "low character" people tend to fade away into an unhappy existence.
ReplyDeleteI think people make a success of this life when they discover what they were born to do, and actually do it.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I think I'm a pretty good husband and the best dad I can be. If my wife and kids say I'm great-I'll consider myself a success-just don't ask them on a bad day. I'm a work in progress-does it ever end? I mean the work?
ReplyDeleteMonica, I think there is definitely something too that. Most people follow the paths that are set for them by "the system," and they are never happy with it. But the people who've broken out of that and done the things they wanted to are much happier. Kind of a personalized Ayn Randian world!
ReplyDeleteAlvaro, That sounds pretty successful to me! As for the work, I'm not sure it could ever end, not if you're doing it right! :-)
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone above. But let me add that I really like these questions. They give you a chance to stop and think about things you wouldn't normally think about.
ReplyDeleteMega, That's why we do them -- to give people something different to think about. I try to mix them up between fun, philosophical, etc.
ReplyDeleteI agree with most everyone. I think that success in life is a personal measure, but making life better for everyone around you is probably a really good way to measure success.
ReplyDeleteAnd funnily enough -- my "word verification" word for the this post is "carma" LOL.
I'm a big believer that you get back what you put out there. :)
Crispy, I think that's true. You see it in all facets of life -- the more you put into something, the more you get out of it. So I don't see why it isn't also true for life in general.
ReplyDeleteGuess I should go learn to skydive?