My readers will remember my blog post on how I was not an ambitious person but, events just happened and I became what can be called a success. Before that I was what most members of my extended family and some friends called a failure although I personally was very happy in that state of being. Now as then my attitude towards life itself is best explained by this image.
I therefore have rather unusual feelings about these two words and I hope that with this post I am able to get my thoughts across to my readers.
Before I proceed further, something came my way on ambition and madness that is worth sharing with my readers and here it is.
I was never mad nor am I, I think, now. Perhaps that is why, I am content with my lot which many consider to be the epitome of success. I have a roof over my head, I get all the food that I want to eat, and, I am blessed with great friends and family. I have enough income to afford my daily dose of newspapers and crossword puzzles plus the regular purchase of books to keep me occupied. I have enough to pay the electricity bills to keep my computer and internet connection going 24/7 which enables me to exploit all the advantages that I have enumerated here. I am blessed with a sense of humour that enables me to laugh at the things happening around me and stay cheerful. How much more can one ask for to be successful at the twilight of his life?
If I have failed, that was in taking care of my health in my youth and I am paying the price for it now. On the other hand, I am able to afford the medical attention that my condition demands and that, in my opinion, is also, a measure of my success. I also failed in some relationships but, they are too few to bother about at this stage of my life.
This is my take on the topic suggested by me for this week’s Friday 2 on 1 blog posts where Shackman and I write on the same subject. Please do go over to his blog to see what he has to say.
It seems that you have a very philosophical and easy-going attitude to life that keeps you contented and free of nagging doubts and irritations. I envy you that calmness. As far as success is concerned, I’ve never seen my life in terms of success, only in terms of whether I’m enjoying myself and have a fairly comfortable life. Worldly ambitions have never interested me in the slightest.
Yes, I do and that attitude has ensured that I have lived comfortably to a ripe old age! I like your attitude too. That is actually how I have lived but, you have articulated it well.
I think it important to measure the painful challenges we have to overcome before reaching a stage of contentment.
It is not a magical state of being, brought up on demand like a TV channel.
I Know that I had to suffer greatly to get to where I am today, very much peaceful in my life, surrounded by a lot of love, a lot of loss, but filled with creativity.
XO
WWW
I agree. Experiences however should be treated as just that and not as measures for success or failure is how I approach life’s challenges. Pain is indeed part of growing up but, that is not failure.
I never planned anything. things just happened to me and for me. I’m not sure what caused that other than losing important people to me in my younger years.
Michael and I have both agreed that it would have been wonderful to get to know them as adults!
I regret few things. I’ve tried to see them as learning experiences. and I NEVER have envied anyone their well earned or sheer lucky successes! to each his/her own! I’m happy with so many wonderful things at the push of a button or lever in my life!
like a flushing toilet and hot water shower and electric light! it makes me feel rich indeed!
my one HUGE regret: I wish I had quit fighting the Cancer that took my Bob.
I think I cheated him of a peaceful time of dying we could have shared.
by still believing that he could overcome it somehow and thinking that way I robbed him of that quiet acceptance. I was just too young to realize it I guess.
That things simply happened is exactly my point. Some people get more, and some people less. It takes great humility to be able to see this and accept that one was at the right place at the right time or wrong place at the wrong time. When it comes to matters of the heart, success and failure are a different kettle of fish and I deliberately did not touch on those matters.
great comments…thanks for sharing
oh, I’ve had my failures and possibly successes…right now, I’m in “no mans’ land” with some new medical issues. I may have more answers mid-week or we may still be out on the questions…
Catherine de Seton recently posted..Let’s get going…
In my not so humble opinion, there is no success or failure in medical matters. There are simply outcomes. Symptoms are managed, or not; cause is removed or not or one simply ceases to exist.