Today is a good day, and this is how you gauge success!

Today has been a good day so far. Ultimate frisbee does this to me. There is just something about being outside on a beautiful day, with friends, running, and playing a game. I have been thinking a lot about how to gauge success lately and I think many people think of prestige and financial success when they think of having a successful life. Though I know I do that too, there are a lot of ways to have a successful life: being happy, having a good perspective, as simple as if you 'fail' then you get up and keep trying. Days when I feel happy I feel invincible, I remember that I have good friends (all over the country, in other countries), I meet new people all the time, people seem to like me, I have so many opportunities, I am very capable, I can take on challenges and find fulfillment in them, I have a wonderful family who love me and will always help me out whenever they can, I know God loves me, and on good days I even look in the mirror and say, "Damn, I'm sexy!"

Once in a job interview many years ago I was asked, "How do you define success?" and I responded, "If you are happy doing what you are doing." I think I've thought that will happen when I find my passion and figure out a way to make it my living. I like a lot of things, and can even be passionate about some ideas and causes, but I don't think I have a "passion." This has often been troublesome for me. And I think this may have been where I got caught up when deciding if I am a success nowadays. However, I forgot there are so many reasons and different ways to be happy doing what you are doing. And having good friends and family definitely make it easier to be happy. And I am very grateful for all of you. Also I think key to finding this happiness in what you do is that you have to try your best. I am reminded about this commercial I saw years ago during the Olympics. Since it is the season of the Olympics (which I LOVE) I am often reminded of it. Basically the premise is there is this guy, and it is footage from like the 1960s, and he is in the weight lifting competition. Anyways, the narrator says, "People say that coming in 2nd is the first loser." And then the man in the commercial makes the lift, drops the weight and is jumping up and down with pure joy and happiness. And then the narrator says, "I guess nobody told that guy." I love this commercial so much. Just thinking about it now gets me a little teary eyed. But I think that if we remember to try our hardest and always try and improve ourselves, not concern ourselves about people who may be worse or better than you, but actually just continually trying your best, you can't do anything but be happy. And by my definition of success that I gave years ago in that interview, being happy doing what you are doing is the gauge of success. Anyways, those are just some thoughts I've had lately. Oh and if you haven't been watching the Olympics then you should because, so often this acknowledgment for your hard work and the pure joy of accomplishment is so evident. It is basically impossible not to love the Olympics (in my opinion anyways). Have a good day!