Daily Cascade

What About Success?

Prompt:
What does success mean to you besides money or status?
Write about this in your Blog entry today.

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Money and status are the loud definitions of success. Anything too loud may not last. Plus, it takes over and drowns all other beautiful sounds.

In my case, I like things that last. You don't believe me? Just check out my wardrobe. I have clothes from way back when. Some of those have stayed with me for their memories alone.

Memories of ordinary moments. The smiles on my sons' faces. My late husband's green eyes sparkling when he looked at me. The sound of a baby's laughter. Cats meowing. Sunsets, a warm cup of tea, and the company of people I love, living with my own true values and not someone else's. Success especially means that in my life, at times quietly, I stood up for myself, even when it was hard.

To me, success also means growth in compassion, wisdom, courage, and progress each day. It means not going after glory or money but trying to do meaningful work, even if my contribution has been very tiny.

Above all, success is loving and being loved. I have been quite lucky in this area since my connections have always been genuine and, as their result, I felt blessed for feeling at ease with myself. Yes, I might have goofed here and there, but I feel some peace of mind as to my own behavior in general.

What I mean is, success -at the end- can't be seen from the outside and can't be measured by a fattened-up resume. Real success is much deeper and much more meaningful.