Today’s Bloganuary question was “How do you define success?” My first thought was being happy for the right reasons. And by this, I mean happy in relationships with family and friends. Happy in your profession/work and not just in money but in satisfaction and accomplishment. And happy with how my time is spent in the pursuits and experiences I aspire to.
I mean what is success without happiness?
It’s funny how your definition of success changes over time. Success at one time was getting the first car, fixing up the first car, getting that date, and graduating HS. Then you move on to successes like not forgetting the ring at your wedding or not passing out at the birth of your children.
And of course professional successes. Some judge by titles or money or offices and suits. Maybe a parking space or special perk or bonus. Maybe a trip or stay at the company vacation home. The successes I think of are the relationships I’ve made and that many continue today and are decades long. I think about technical or production accomplishments with teammates shoulder to shoulder and the feeling of shared success and experience. I think about the gift of the knowledge shared and built upon.
Success sometimes is overcoming adversity. I’ve been lucky enough to survive 2 cancers and major auto accidents and multiple concussions. Well, some opinions might vary on that last one.
Success could be making someone else’s day. That perfect trip, that special gift. Or maybe something simple as giving a hungry person a meal.
Success will vary day by day. Like today, success was watching a 3-year-old successfully and making it through an 11-hour work night this evening. Success could be squeezing in a half-hour joy ride between errands some days.
Find something each day that is a success for yourself, even if it’s little. You will be much happier even if the rest of the day is for crap.
Random Thoughts of the Day
- I love when my granddaughter goes to the games cabinet. There is always a game or two more within the game I thought we were playing.
- Roger Daltrey could really belt out a scream on “Won’t get fooled again.”
- Do you think about not waking up tomorrow? Probably why I don’t like going to sleep.
- I always keep a picture of the messiest office I’ve ever seen. When I can’t tell the difference between the picture and my office I start cleaning.
- It’s the last day of the workweek and I’m feeling like a teenager about to be cut loose.
