Everyday Canvas

On Success

Prompt: Albert Einstein’s formula for success is: “If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut.”
What is your formula or what does success mean to you?

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I don’t know if I have the exact formula for success, but success, to me, is to keep going regardless of what has happened to a person, what he or she has left behind, has lost, or has won. The tenacity to continue living as well as he or she can makes anyone a person of value.

Then, being true to one’s self is another asset in success. By that, I mean being original rather than being the imitation of someone else.

Shining a light into other lives is also important. This doesn’t necessarily mean traveling halfway over the world for to feed the hungry in some downtrodden continent. To me, it means doing the best one can from where one stands. One can shine a light into other lives by helping others overcome difficulties, physical, material, emotional, or social. Even an eager ear to listen to troubles or an encouraging phrase every now and then can brighten up someone else’s life.

Keeping a smile on one’s face, being thankful for what one has and for what one is able to achieve, seeing things from the best angle, and not fearing difficulties are important, too. A happy face goes together with a happy, loving heart and an enthusiastic personality.

In addition, rising over difficulties and even successes without paying them too much importance makes for a successful life.