I’ve been thinking about this idea of success and happiness. The two are not always tied together. I, for example, have not reached the definition of success I support. However, I live a very very happy life. If the two are tied together for me, I would argue that to push as hard as possible for personal success would limit the happiness in my life as it would limit the time in my life to do what makes me happy. That is probably true of a lot of people. Success demands time on task. If that ToT makes you happy, then it is all good. If that ToT takes away from how you define happiness, then it is more important to reach a balance where you can feel good enough about your success that it does not negatively impact your happiness. ‘Balance in all things,’ as the Lady Talis often points out.
Even having a Lady Talis is directly tied to the sense of happiness I feel. I would not be in this relationship if I focused all my energies on being a top 100 writer. Being that person means writing 8 hours a day. I don’t have 8 hours to write, because I don’t want to spend that much time doing it in lieu of spending time with my wife and my family. Balance, in these things, is being sought though not yet fully realized.
Last is the question of expectation and how it bonds to our ideas of success. I have long held the expectation of having a Mansion and a Yacht. These are unrealistic, I realize. That doesn’t stop me from expecting they could manifest at some point in my life. Note I say expectation vs. desire. I’m not dreaming about them. I’m trying to plot a way to get there. So without some version of that I am lacking that ultimate success.
Some Thoughts:
- Absolutely Bonkers Headline of the Day: “New York Times reporters are subpoenaed after Air Force One stories, raising press freedom concerns” We are certainly trending in the wrong direction. It is going to get a lot worse before it gets better. This isn’t a leader who understands compromise or how to be a Lame Duck. He’s going to go hard and angry all the way out–if he allows for the out at all. There are terrible voices in his ear, which, as self serving as they are, have a vision of the future USA that does not align with the reality many of us desire. Case and point are the delusions of grandeur he manifests about his approval and his success.
- Don’t get me started on the ICE stuff… That Miller-generated fiasco is going to have a reckoning one day.