Friday, May 22, 2009

True Success









"To laugh often and love much;


 to win the respect of intelligent persons


and the affection of children;


to earn the approbation of honest citizens


and endure the betrayal of false friends;


to appreciate beauty;


to find the best in others;


to give of one's self;


to leave the world a bit better,


whether by a healthy child,


a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;


to have played and laughed with enthusiasm


and sung with exultation;


to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived 


this is to have succeeded."


-Ralph Waldo Emerson



I don't consider work, and a career to be a separate entity from life. Many do, and I thnk it's because they don't love what they do or enjoy where they are and the people they are amongst. I contend that the only way to achieve the success described above is to surround yourself with people that love what they are doing as much as you do. Also on the way making time for family, friends, and the beauty that is children. I may be the eternal idealist, but please, never settle for any less.





4 comments:

  1. Great post.
    Idealism is not a bad thing. Realism is a cop out that would-be idealists use when they are afraid they might not achieve the ideal. If that makes sense. They say, This is the REAL world and the real world just doesn't work that way. It's a cop-out. I believe it COULD work that way. Even if it can't, the closer you come, the better.
    ~Lee

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  2. Nice post and good message. I tend to be a realist and see things in a cynical light. However, events of the past little while have shown me that life can be much more. My goal now is to make each today better than yesterday. sometimes I succeed, some times I fail...I just keep trying and hope I succeed in doing so more often than not.
    Thanks for the post and see ya around Twitter!

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  3. Tathagata ChakrabortyJune 30, 2010 at 6:27 AM

    Nice post! Having an idealistic streak running through your life and whatever that you do is essential for the happiness of everyone surrounding you and for you yourself. It is a quality that few people have but most expect others to possess. Thanks for spreading the message.

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  4. Robert Stevenson-LeggettJune 30, 2010 at 6:27 AM

    Amen to that. Just found your blog. Sounds like you have a lot of the same opinions as me :) It's hard to keep the work like balance when you're passionate though... Stay pragmatic about both work and social life.

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