Success
Definition:
The favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.
Having experienced all that I have in life, I've come to realize and understand that success is more than just the ascertainment of money, fine homes and cars. I believe those luxuries are, for the most part, the result of a successful mindset and lifestyle. When you set goals in your life and meet them, that's the achievement of success, no matter how small or large the intended goal. The goals could be minor in many cases and often times not even considered as anything that would merit the label of success, but they are goals nonetheless.
The Media has painted a picture of what success looks like and for many it portrays a façade that many cannot realistically achieve. Success for one may differ greatly from that of another individual. It could simply be, as I have so eloquently stated on many an occasion, a single Mother of three that has to get up every morning and make sure that everyone gets off to school on time, does their homework, and stays out of trouble. Then she has to go to work and deal with adverse co-workers and a Supervisor or Manager that does not care about her as a person but only the bottom line of the company, if he (or she) isn't trying to go after her "bottom line." Then she possibly has to pick the children up from school or meet them at home, cook dinner, make sure homework is done, get everyone ready for bed, get herself settled and ready for bed, all but to do it all over again on the morrow. For her, the success in reaching her goal(s) could be making it through all of the aforementioned without going off on someone, cracking under pressure, or freaking out in the event of a crisis.
We have to begin to retool our minds as to what success really is so we can teach the forthcoming generations the meaning and true value and worth of success. We have to do away with the false bravado of what success has been made to be and return it to its original luster so that it will maintain the value it so deserves. We have a responsibility to teach our children and grandchildren that success is not about how much or how many things we accumulate but what we did to effectuate positive change in the lives of those around us that will plant a seed to bring forth a harvest that will continue to perpetuate itself in the lives of those to come in the future.