Success

I recently read that the secret to success in life
is not getting what you want,
but being satisfied with what you get.

Of course this immediately reminded me of the Rolling Stones lyrics from the 1960’s
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try
Sometimes you just might find
You get what you need

Both statements remind me of pseudo-philosophical discussions about
the glass being half empty, or
the glass being half full,
when actually
the glass is simply twice as big as it needs to be.

And when I ponder this collection of statements I come to realize that
All that I need,
and all that I want,
is at home.

So I guess it isn’t much of an “AHA” moment to say that success is really all about your own personal definition of the term. Though I never spent any time seriously thinking about success growing up, my definition of success never had anything to do with work, salary, position, or title. And since my life never revolved around work, retirement hasn’t been some big traumatic event. The truth is I never loved my job or saw it as something I was called to do. My job never was my definition of success. My job did not define me. My job didn’t give me self-value; I already had that.

My job simply filled its purpose.
It put a roof over our heads,
and put food on the table,
and permitted me the time to pursue what I really loved:
Jean,
Ann and John,
running,
and reading good books.

(and playing computer games)


What is success?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;
This is to have succeeded.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882