September 9, 2016 - What is Success?

          Success is fickle, unfair, and most of all is fleeting. Success cannot be bought or sold, yet it can be squandered or thrown away.  It cannot be given, but it cannot always be earned either. Success cannot be measured exactly, but it can be scrutinized by each and everyone.  Sometimes success is instantaneous; other times it is a long journey.  Some people do not know they have it when they’ve got it; other people know exactly what it is but never attain it. Success is like an exclusive butterfly to some and a heavy yoke of burden to others.  For some people, success is as simple as meeting the rent or having food to feed their children.  For others, it is the fifth Lear jet for their personal fleet.  Success is simply having a choice when before you had none.  It is the first time you do not allow fate to wash you along its waves of life at its discretion.

          Success is not making a living off the backs of others.  Success is being able to hold your head up and look a person squarely in the eye, knowing you have nothing to be ashamed of.  Success is knowing  you have earned every penny of a paycheck with diligent hard work.  Success is being strong enough to say “NO” to an immoral business practice and smile when you lose your job because of it.

          Success can be a rude awakening when you find yourself where you thought success would be and say, “Is this it?”  It is the empty echo bouncing back on you as you realize that the struggle to succeed was more enjoyable than the climax. Success is when you do not buy the best anymore or the “IN” things.  It is when less is more because it is truly what you like.  Success is knowing there is more to life than money, material things, and position.  Success is an anonymous donation to a worthwhile charity.

          Success is the time in your life when you stop and take a deep breath of fresh air and discover how deliciously sweet it is; a time when you look around and suddenly see for the first time the incredible beauty that has always been there, but you were too busy to notice before. Success is the time in your life when your troubles are shamefully trivial compared to those of the rest of the world.  It is a time when you pause to give encouragement because you see some of your former self in another person; when you reach out and squeeze a person’s hand, knowing they are going through the death of a loved one or through a separation or divorce and honestly say, “I don’t know how to help you, but tell me and I will try.”  Success is when things that cost little, like sharing, caring and friendship, are suddenly very important to you. Success is remembering with a smile when two steamed hotdogs and a shared beer was a big night out.

          Note:  Retired Professor Tom Callison of Isothermal Community College kept a copy of this and used it as an example to future students on what he was looking for in an essay.  He used to read it out to the class.   Often, when he would meet me out in the community, he would say.  I still use your essay in class as an example.