How do you measure success?
T and I were discussing the other day what the definition of success might be. I truly believe the definition of success is based on personal perspective.
For example, T does not feel successful - only average. I however, consider him to be very successful, and I believe this is could be a product of our upbringing. If someone asked me right now if I felt I was successful in my life I'd say yes, because from my perspective I've done more in my life then I ever though I would while I was in HS. To date I:
1. Went away to college;
2. Lived and interned in London;
3. Have seen almost all of Western and Eastern Europe, most of the Baltic region (including Russia), China, and Mexico;
4. Lived on my own in Boston;
5. Worked hard in a famous lab and became a published 'scientist';
6. Moved to NYC;
7. Earned my MA from a very good school (go NYU!);
8. Married my best friend;
9. Live with my husband in a building that we own and love;
10.Have great friends from both my past and my present;
11.Am close to my family and can look forward to having my own someday as well.
Why am I listing all of this? Because when I was in HS and college I wanted to run as far and as fast from my suburban life as I could. It wasn't an unhappy life, but at the time I craved adventure, culture, excitement, different people and food - just a different life. After 6 years of living in big cities I notice now the things I crave? Grass, trees, family, friends....everything I had as a kid but couldn't appreciate. I feel like I was successful in my intentions - I have lived a fuller life then I ever thought I would and now?? Now I have half a lifetime to continue living to the crazy fullest I can while actually appreciating what I have and have had in my life. I feel lucky. :)
Next stop? Travel through India, followed by Africa.
I'm going to start writing my list of '100 things to do before I die' to make sure at the close of my days I'll still look back on my life and say "hey, I'm successful."
For example, T does not feel successful - only average. I however, consider him to be very successful, and I believe this is could be a product of our upbringing. If someone asked me right now if I felt I was successful in my life I'd say yes, because from my perspective I've done more in my life then I ever though I would while I was in HS. To date I:
1. Went away to college;
2. Lived and interned in London;
3. Have seen almost all of Western and Eastern Europe, most of the Baltic region (including Russia), China, and Mexico;
4. Lived on my own in Boston;
5. Worked hard in a famous lab and became a published 'scientist';
6. Moved to NYC;
7. Earned my MA from a very good school (go NYU!);
8. Married my best friend;
9. Live with my husband in a building that we own and love;
10.Have great friends from both my past and my present;
11.Am close to my family and can look forward to having my own someday as well.
Why am I listing all of this? Because when I was in HS and college I wanted to run as far and as fast from my suburban life as I could. It wasn't an unhappy life, but at the time I craved adventure, culture, excitement, different people and food - just a different life. After 6 years of living in big cities I notice now the things I crave? Grass, trees, family, friends....everything I had as a kid but couldn't appreciate. I feel like I was successful in my intentions - I have lived a fuller life then I ever thought I would and now?? Now I have half a lifetime to continue living to the crazy fullest I can while actually appreciating what I have and have had in my life. I feel lucky. :)
Next stop? Travel through India, followed by Africa.
I'm going to start writing my list of '100 things to do before I die' to make sure at the close of my days I'll still look back on my life and say "hey, I'm successful."