Nouns and Verbs is our weekly challenge where we write about what specific words mean to us. Join in the fun via the comment section, telling us how or why these ordinary nouns and verbs are meaningful to you. This week we’re thinking about SUCCESS.
Success
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.
Often attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson, it is an adaptation of a poem published in 1905 by Bessie Stanley. No version of it has been found in Emerson's writings. For more information see http://www.transcendentalists.com/success.htm
3 comments:
That is so cool Lisa. I have a habit of double checking things at snopes.com, but this item was not to be found there. So...I called Jim Manley, director of The Ralph Walso Emerson Institute in NYC (what a nice accent he has) to see what his take on this was. He said a relative of Emerson's had attributed this quote to Emerson, but that the institute is of the opinion that it was not accurate. In fact, Manley said that Ralph Waldo Emerson "is the most quoted author, and many of those are misquotes." Manley's own favorite Emerson quote? "I hate quotes -- tell me what you know!" -Deborah Turner (posted as anonymous since I am not currently signed in)
When I think of the word “success” I think of two people, my cousins in Durham, NC. As young women in their thirties, each one’s life had taken a bad turn. One was in a well paid, but unfulfilling position with a demanding, global corporation. And although I couldn’t prove it, I think her job never ever, completely left her thoughts. Her sister was in a failed relationship and her job in sales was definitely not where she wanted to spend the rest of her life.
Over a period of several years, these two seemed to follow the lyrics to one of my favorite songs, “Pick Yourself Up.” Part of it goes:
Nothing’s impossible I have found,
For when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up,
Dust my self off,
Start all over again.
(Lyrics by: Dorothy Fields / Music by: Jerome Kern)
And that’s what my cousins did. They started all over again.
These days, the ex-corporate exec sells frozen treats. That’s right, she decided to make and sell palettes, which are fresh fruit, frozen treats in Mexico. She did her research, made a business plan, loaded up two dogs and drove to Mexico where a lady taught her to make what I call “heaven on a stick.” She learned some great recipes (chili cucumber is my fave), created a bunch more and opened Loco Pops on shoestring budget near Duke University. My cousin and her business partner now have four stores and are the toast of Durham. She and her pups have bought a little home and are a great addition to the Tar Heel State.
Her sister, who also must have read the lyrics, brushed herself off in a similar fashion. She, too, moved to Durham, but it wasn’t until recently that she found her life’s work. A lover of animals, she volunteered for a number of animal related organizations. She’s now in school, studying to be a vet tech and living happily with an elderly rescued dog and cat in a sweet bungalow.
For my money, these gals are incredibly successful. They each have a job they love, friends and family who adore them, a community they can serve that needs them in return, a place to call home and assorted four-legged creatures who make sure the kitchen floor is always spotless. Now that’s success. ---Susan Jones
When contemplating the term “success”, most folks, I imagine, begin with money. How much accumulated wealth has so-and-so gained? How many cars are in their driveway, both the home in town and the one at the lake? But, to me, it is never about the money. I immediately associate the word success with my dear friend George. Although I’m very acquainted with George, I’ve actually never met him. He’s a fictional character from probably my all-time favorite movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. To me, this movie epitomizes the term “success”. Surely you recall the plot, but if not, it’s about local-yokel, George Bailey, who is forever destined to live out his life in small-town, Bedford Falls, New York, although he had dreams his entire life of making it big somewhere, ANYWHERE, other than in his hometown. At every turn, George is relegated to continue his family business, a flittering savings and loan company, in order to keep the town from falling into the hands of the local rich miser, Mr. Potter, who takes sick pleasure in “taking” from everyone. By doing so, George is virtually left barely surviving, while making sure his townsfolk are well cared for. When his company loses $8000, thanks to his uncle Billy, George is at his last gasp. It’s not until he contemplates suicide that his guardian angel, Clarence Oddbody, visits (prompted by the prayers of all the townspeople) and gives George a little insight into his life. Gentle Clarence, who hasn’t earned his wings, by the way, gives George the chance to observe what Bedford Falls would have been like without him. As you can surmise, Bedford Falls becomes Pottersville, a Potter-controlled town sunk in sex and sin. George realizes, of course, that he truly did have a wonderful life. And, as you can surely guess, once George returns to Bedford Falls, the town all joyfully sacrifices their savings to bail their beloved George and his company out of their financial loss. Clarence, by helping George, earns his wings and also leaves George with one final thought, “Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.” Friendship…. that’s success!
Post a Comment