What is success?

This is such a personal issue that it is often hard to clarify what we value as to what would make us successful versus what friends, family and society would define as success.

I mean we all look at those who are icons of success in our community and our world. Media defines success that is often equated with visibility, material possessions, and, often, beauty. However, most of us can never achieve the media hype that says skinny is right and money is might. I remember an old saying: A woman can never be too rich or too thin. And look what concepts like this have done to destroy the self-esteem of many women. And I will never forget the impact of the cliche “Men never make passes at girls who wear glasses.”

The meta message when I was growing up that to be a successful woman I should marry for money, keep looking gorgeous and never let anyone know that I was smart. Boy I did all that and I didn’t feel successful at all.

In my journey from then to now, my ideas of what I feel would make me feel successful has constantly been in a state of flux and change. I have come to the conclusion that while I would have no objection to being wealthy, famous, and defy the signs of aging, what I really desire is to feel content, to lead a simple life so that I can do what gives me pleasure.

And what gives me pleasure is writing. Since I am doing that I guess that I can officially say that I am successful.