What Constitutes Success?

[SeattleRain]

Little New Year's Challenge anyone?

I know there are a bunch out there already and I should be promptly spanked for popping in after such a long absence and proposing yet another....


here is a challenge (and a story!) from 1905
no, there is no money involved unless you have some sort of time machine.....


*100 words
*What constitutes success?
*In poetry form? Up to you.

This is one I read at my sister's house today, have read it a bunch of times before, but today in looking it up learned something new.


So what say you?

Success anyone?

oh and please no bullshitting and trying to downplay someone else's version of success like happened at the ambition thread. Just let people have their say if they want to have their say.



Lincoln Sentinel, Nov. 30, 1905


"What Constitutes Success"
A $250 Prize Story by a Lincoln Woman

A few weeks ago Mrs. A.J. Stanley at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Stanley wrote an essay on "What constitutes success" for entrance in a contest carried on by the George Livingston Richards Co. of Boston, Mass. It was required that the essay should be confined to 100 words and should be the best definition of what constituted success, neatness and several of the requirements being taken into consideration. The essay was entered in competition with hundreds of others from all parts of the country. Last Saturday when Mrs. Stanley was notified that she had won the first prize of $250 she did not credit the good news and laughing told Mr. Stanley he could have half. An accompanying draft furnished satisfactory proof. Below we give Mrs. Stanley’s essay on "What Constitutes Success."

"He has achieved success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much; who has gained the respect of intelligent men and the love of little children; who has filled his niche and accomplished his task; who has left the world better than he found it, whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul; who has never lacked appreciation of earth’s beauty or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given them the best he had; whose life was an inspiration; whose memory a benediction."


~~~~~

If you are like me, you might have thought that this was from Ralph Waldo Emerson.... but it seems that this was a misunderstanding

To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.
--- inaccurately attributed to
Ralph Waldo Emerson

(quoted from the linked site)

This quote is almost certainly not from Emerson, though it is often attributed to him. I have never been able to find it in any of Emerson's writings, nor has anyone else to my knowledge (and plenty of people have been looking).....read more

 

[Sara Crewe]

My definition of success has evolved. As a girl, it was measured by how many goals I scored, report cards and fun with friends. Later, it was awards, the best university, trips and pleasing people. Then my Dad died and in that loss I had a revelation about success. For me, it was no longer measurable by external factors. Success for me is how close I am to being the person I was meant to be and life is the process of figuring out exactly who she is. When I get it right it’s the moment when an orchestra stops tuning up and begins a symphony. Chaos to clarity in a second.








I get it wrong a lot.

 

[annaswirls]

I love the image of the orchestra tuning up, Sara, beautifully written, thank you.

And surely, I know you get it right an awful lot too

Happy New Year!


ps: I still have not written mine, it seems I keep defining success by what it is not.

My definition of success has evolved. As a girl, it was measured by how many goals I scored, report cards and fun with friends. Later, it was awards, the best university, trips and pleasing people. Then my Dad died and in that loss I had a revelation about success. For me, it was no longer measurable by external factors. Success for me is how close I am to being the person I was meant to be and life is the process of figuring out exactly who she is. When I get it right it’s the moment when an orchestra stops tuning up and begins a symphony. Chaos to clarity in a second.








I get it wrong a lot.

 

[Maria2394]

````````````````````````

 

[Sara Crewe]

I love the image of the orchestra tuning up, Sara, beautifully written, thank you.

And surely, I know you get it right an awful lot too

Happy New Year!


ps: I still have not written mine, it seems I keep defining success by what it is not.

Thanks, Anna. As soon as I posted it I wanted to add one postscript but thought it would be cheating on the hundred word limit. I didn't mean to sound like I didn't want to achieve tangible 'things' in my life. I guess I differentiate between the two. For example, before I die I want to have published a book (s) so that is something I strive to achieve. However, when I visualize the moment of having my book in my hands I imagine a jolt of accomplishment and pleasure but it won't change how I feel about myself or who I am and so therefore, it is not a measure of my success. (to me) Only things totally under my control are measures of my success and the only thing totally under my control is me. I would not be successful if I did not make every effort to write, edit and market the book but if I do so and no one publishes it then I have not failed as long as I gave it my best shot.





I am such a 'hundred word cheater'.

 

[Tzara]

I cheat because I am

Success is one of those four letter words that just fucking grate on you. Like, what, I'm not worthy? I don't count? You're telling me I'm not a success? That I'm not happy? What? That I'm not...

What's that? Six? Six letters? Shit. OK, fine. Be a count Nazi, why dontcha. No, it's OK. I'm OK, goddamit. Fine. I'll just start again.

Success is one of those six letter words...

Fuck. This isn't going to work, is it? Goddam motherfucking arbitrary... is this 100 words yet? No? ... motherfucking piece of...

OK. Sorry. Sorry.

Success is getting to 100 words.

 

[Sara Crewe]

Success is one of those four letter words that just fucking grate on you. Like, what, I'm not worthy? I don't count? You're telling me I'm not a success? That I'm not happy? What? That I'm not...

What's that? Six? Six letters? Shit. OK, fine. Be a count Nazi, why dontcha. No, it's OK. I'm OK, goddamit. Fine. I'll just start again.

Success is one of those six letter words...

Fuck. This isn't going to work, is it? Goddam motherfucking arbitrary... is this 100 words yet? No? ... motherfucking piece of...

OK, OK. Sorry. Sorry.

Success is getting to 100 words.

Is motherfucking one word? No matter, even with it you were already over by one...

-Sara Crewe C.N.

PS Make sure when you walk by me you salute with all your fingers not just the middle one.

 

[Tzara]

Is motherfucking one word? No matter, even with it you were already over by one...

-Sara Crewe C.N.

PS Make sure when you walk by me you salute with all your fingers not just the middle one.

Godammit! So much for editing on the fly. Take out one "OK", OK?

Hey! You'd look nice in that Charlotte Rampling costume from The Night Porter. Classic movie, so it's OK.

Just saying.

 

[Maria2394]

damn, T, my KID would love that outfit, she has an authentic pair of Nazi jackboots a friend gave her when she was 16, he bought them off ebay for 400 dollars. I tried them on once and they gave me a really creepy feeling...

she just had that fascination, you know, some kids get that. she was never raised as a racist or peple hater, just had that fetish, but damn!! thats a hot outfit

wow!!

 

[Sara Crewe]

Goddammit! So much for editing on the fly. Take out one "OK", OK?

Hey! You'd look nice in that Charlotte Rampling costume from The Night Porter. Classic movie, so it's OK.

Just saying.

I think the whole piece falls apart without that extra okay and it's not a 'costume' if the top consists of hands. Just saying. And thank you...if I have to be a Nazi might as well be a hot one.

 

[Tzara]

damn, T, my KID would love that outfit, she has an authentic pair of Nazi jackboots a friend gave her when she was 16, he bought them off ebay for 400 dollars. I tried them on once and they gave me a really creepy feeling...

she just had that fascination, you know, some kids get that. she was never raised as a racist or peple hater, just had that fetish, but damn!! thats a hot outfit

wow!!

Oh, Ms. M. It was such a divisive movie, er (cough) film, when it first appeared. People hated it. Very SM oriented, which was definitely not the style of the times (1974). But it has survived, even thrived as a film, which

rates Criterion Collection, so it's arty.
'Cause Charlotte's always super hot, although
with braces, no top, Nazi hat, and pouty
she's like pornography. I (whew!) know.​

Here in Seattle, we have a classic Soviet statue of Lenin. Same kind of thing. Some people hate it, think of it as glorifying oppression and communism. Others of us think of it as kind of Pop. Different strokes and folks, of course.

As like, for some odd reason, you make me think of trees.

 

[Tzara]

I think the whole piece falls apart without that extra okay and it's not a 'costume' if the top consists of hands. Just saying. And thank you...if I have to be a Nazi might as well be a hot one.

The top is the suspenders, dearie. And they'd look good on you.

Just a comment.

 

[Maria2394]

Oh, Ms. M. It was such a divisive movie, er (cough) film, when it first appeared. People hated it. Very SM oriented, which was definitely not the style of the times (1974). But it has survived, even thrived as a film, which

rates Criterion Collection, so it's arty.
'Cause Charlotte's always super hot, although
with braces, no top, Nazi hat, and pouty
she's like pornography. I (whew!) know.​

Here in Seattle, we have a classic Soviet statue of Lenin. Same kind of thing. Some people hate it, think of it as glorifying oppression and communism. Others of us think of it as kind of Pop. Different strokes and folks, of course.

As like, for some odd reason, you make me think of trees.

a long, long time ago, when I was on AOL, i posted a comment that had to do with the definition( and censorship) of art in response to a sculpture of a woman in mid fall from the towers as they burned...

I got HATE mail. and lots of it!! ( I was maria2394 on there as well)

it was worse than a recent incident that comes to mind, which I deserved ..probably, lol).

personally, I think if we are to "hide" artwork, of any type, then we are not a free society and that was all I said on th AOL bulletin..it got a special "place" on the site, they ran my comment like a gazillion times and eventually, this one guy, threatened to kill me...no kidding. I culdnt believe it, all over an honest opinion... go figger

I rather like that stature of Lenin, of course he triggers discourse, wasnt that he point??

thanks for the most interesting links



m

PS, and I remind you of trees?? Yay!! I HAVE succeeded in my life.

trees are good
trees are fun
I stripped down
and hugged on one



bless you, Tzara

 

[Savage Kitten]

My definition of Success has changed over time, and will continue to change.


Success

Little girl so full of stars,
Success would be a ballerina.
Adolescent struggle to grow up,
Success would be graduating High School.
Young woman with romantic dreams,
Success would be to marry the perfect man.
Wisdom grows with maternal love,
Success would be a prosperous family.
Empty nest, accomplished career,
Success would be health & grandchildren.
Full life, cherished memories, last breath,
Success would be kneeling at my
Heavenly Father's feet.

 

[RhymeFairy]

success


finally, after the sweaty sun
begot
my last breathe.

I stand before you.
dairy farmers daughter
who outlived the beating rays
out done the too deep potatoes
out maneuvered the manure trotting heifers.

yes, here I stand. to tired,
bush whacked
and begging
a drop of water.

~~~~

Have to add ... I really was not trying to be funny.

~~~


Work on the farm was so tough
when you awoke, your only hope
was to snuggle back under and beg
for a work release.

I remember it with such fondness
and I miss it. But, there are times
I look back and think
... what the hell were mom and dad thinking
to make us do that all day.

Damned if I don't love them
all the more now, for it
toughened me up and taught me
so much of endurance, pain
and enjoyment of a job well done.