August 12, 2006

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    Success


    August's topic on Featured Grownups has to do with success and how we define it, what it means to us.


    I'm kind of turned off by the word, "success".  I've heard it used most when someone labels the value of a person's career or life.  I've also heard the word used when someone evaluates a performance or an attempt at some prize.


    The word success drags with it heavy baggage for me. It holds memories of people with tunnel vision who believe that success is only defined in their narrow outlook and is almost always dependent on money.


    The concept of success equalling financial gain makes me sick.  That sums up everything that I DON'T believe in!  Money and things are ephemeral in this life.  The older I get the more I realize that there is very little that lasts beyond our time on earth.  Even if your money survives you and is handed down, it means absolutely nothing if there is no love and connection to go with it to the next generation.


    I feel that the only lasting thing that I can do while I'm here is to live as honestly as possible and be true to what I understand as good.  For me personally, I think that the only tangible way that the world will feel my existence is in the love that I give to others.  That sounds really cliche as I write it but I really, deeply believe this. 


    I try to be true to the person that I am; I try to figure out how to create meaningful things (I'll let you know if I ever get there!)  But the most important thing is the love that I show other people.  I think that I have tons to learn on how that can be done but I desire to learn it.


    So if I had to use that distasteful word, success, so that we can agree on a concept, my definition of success is being sure that I'm giving all that I can while remaining in truth.  Nope, haven't even come close to that yet but it's my goal.


     

Comments (6)

  • To be truely oneself and not to have too much money  . I agree with you Lisa . And love is an eternal value . If I have no love , I have nothing .
    Love        Michel

  • Maybe it should be suckcess, lol!  Maybe that's another thing the last generation held dear so we could care less aout it.  Byron and I were riding in the car and talking yesterday about the false hope of financial things and how 1-it probably ain't gonna happen and 2-so what if it did?  I like what Michel said.  I also thought of that lil cliche that says, "the best things in life aren't things."

    Hey, thanks for your kind comments about Alyssa's playing. That means so much from you music people types! She surprised even me. I am sure it didn't hurt that the last 3 days she had been hanging out with Jody each night at the festival and they were jamming with some folks who are well-known and really talented in the bluegrass world. Jody plays with the Jeannette Williams Band... those guys and some others have been a huge encouragement to Lyss and just taken her under their wings.

    The icing was getting to buy that hand-built Jim Edmonds guitar.  It has such a bright, clear tone and as Lyss's friends keep saying, "it's BIG!"  LOL, that makes me laugh!  Check out his work.  Mr. Edmonds just seemed like he wanted her to have it. EVerybody who saw it was talking about it... one guy who could have paid a lot more for it, asked about it and he said, "she's got first dibs." I'm just a little proud and pleased for her, LOL!  It makes a mama happy when life smiles on her kiddos.   Saw yer timestamp on my blog commento... hope you get some rest!

  • Dear Lisa,

    The dictionary definition, which Pam posted on the Topic Post, doesn't mention money. It mentions that success is the achievement of something desired. True, a lot of people desire money, but in time, they learn, as the old adage says, that "money doesn't buy happiness."

    I sometimes think that the people who "lose everything" in a tragedy are blessed to a certain degree, because they are forced to realize that all the "things" they own can disappear at any time, and it is only our wits that we keep with us.

    Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool

  • I've struggled with that concept all my adult life. And haven't ever felt much like an adult along the way either. Now I find myself approaching my dotage without having achieved whatever it is. Success is self-defined, and those who are truly happy within themselves have done the work to create the definition, then had the courage of their convictions. Imho.

  • Dear Internet Islander,

    I'm trying something new this week, so please excuse the fact that I'm sending this same message to you and to all the Internet Islanders as a comment. I just wanted to announce that there is a NEW TOPIC POST at the Island. You can get there by clicking this link. Please drop by and see what kind of "imaginative" topic post I've created this week.  I sure hope you participate! We seem to get stronger with each Topic Post.

    Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool

    BlogRing Leader for the "Internet Island"

  • we can only feel good about what it is we truly buy into i think.  success....crazy word it can't be used to imply peace of mind/body/soul can it?-g  love your writing from the heart.

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