What Does Success Mean To You?

What Success Means To Me.

Throughout the short period of time I have lived on this earth, I have come to observe what success is in our modern day society. Some people define their success with money, others with fame, if not fame then it be athletic achievements among the world's eyes. Interestingly enough the three of the previously stated achievements all have one thing in common. They all imply self-righteousness, and that is an act that I personally find repugnant and rather revolting. To me humility is the most beautiful thing in the entire world, and if I were able to reach any of the goals above by being humble (which I doubt) I would be proud of myself and bask in my achievements.

Unfortunately in my eyes it is virtually impossible to achieve said things within the correct frame of mind; and ill explain why. Money; what is money? Money has become somewhat of a drug in our world; and we are its drug addicted users. Just like your common drug filled moron he/she is never satisfied with the amount of substance he/she receives, more is always the final conclusion in their minds, more, more, and more. In similarity we as humans crave the desire to have more money; in all honesty I don't care who you are everyone knows you; on any given day would want more money. But why? And where does the self-righteousness fall into place with this achievement?

People crave more money because we have the stupid notion of believing it will comfort us and no not bring us happiness, but a peace of mind , when that is not the case at all my friends. (Example my father experimented this at first hand, now owning a million dollar company; he doesn't even wish to continue working because he is under stress and anxiety. Instead he always remises about how he desires to shrink the company down in order to live comfortably both at work and home. Has he done this? No. Why? Answer it yourself.) People who have large amounts of wealth are commonly interpreted as haughty scum by our society, this interpretation made by society is among one of the most accurate. Something about these people having money makes them believe they have come to be better than everyone else. Some dignify their behavior by saying "I'm rich because I worked hard and went to college unlike everyone else." But in reality you became rich because you were a junkie that craved the drug more than the rest of us and by that act alone it has shown us that you originally desired money in order to exalt yourself among everyone else in our society, and that is just sad.

Now fame; why exactly do people desire fame? People desire it because it has been painted as an extravagant life by those who have already acquired it. Actors, athletes, musicians, dances, models, etc. The other day I was watching TV, as I was watching they interviewed a man roughly in his thirties. He said he had been singing all his life playing music for people but he said it was fame what he was after, fame like Tim McGraw. Again, yes there are the exceptions among people who gain fame without desiring it but when they receive it why don't they reject it.

That's impossible you might say; but it's not because we have an amazing example. J.D Salinger, an author who wrote one of the most influential novels was one of those people who gained fame without desiring it. 'The Catcher In The Rye' was the novel that he wrote and had published that gave him said fame. He was a man that never desired any of it so he rejected it and ignored all of the media living in his private home continuing his beloved passion until death. Nothing is wrong with having Money, fame, of any extravagant achievement. What is wrong are the ideas and notions that come along with it, and that is what makes it all sad and disgusting.

No matter how attractive a physical roster may look, attributes like arrogance, self-righteousness, and the belief that you are better then someone will always make you uglier then the hobo you see asking for change at the stoplight. So what is success? Success to me is an illusion, success is non-existent because no one will ever win in the world we live in. good people become corrupt, honest people become liars, and heroes become villains.  So it would make sense to believe that success would be in eliminating the false concept created of success. My success will not be defined by weather I acquire any of the things above it’ll be acquired when I learn to be satisfied with the person I am and the person I want to be, but I will stand by believeing that no one is deserving of being better than everyone else, and no one will ever be.