For a long time I was led to believe that success was...
Routine
A job that you stayed in for a whole career
A huge 401k
Owning a house with a picket fence
Owning a nice car
Belonging to some fancy community organization
PTA
Never losing your keys; being organized and on-task
Returning to the same vacation spot; year after year
Hitting that favorite eatery every friday with the same crowd of friends
Same traditions around every holiday
Steady, routine, rock solid and responsible-Success
I was led to believe that if I did not have that or did not want that then I was somehow inadequate...a failure..
I am happy for those who have this life...those who want this life...there is nothing wrong with fitting into the traditional mold of success
I had that for a long time but….
It didn't feel right...happy...content...
For a long time I thought there was something wrong with me…
Why did that life make me want to put a needle in my eye or drink a bottle of vodka???
Did I need therapy? Medication? (Maybe... but not in relationship to this issue)
I realized I needed to let go of the opinions of others and define my own life; my own success and my own failures
Success for me is not showing people my bright and shining possessions, having a perfect outside appearance or a big diamond ring...
Success is not tangible for me...it is not always safe and it is hardly the same each time I experience it
It is made up of new experiences, traveling to new places, meeting new people, serving others, loving with all that I have…
Success is in my spirituality
Success is knowing that each person close to me in my life would be there to support me at any moment I needed
Success is knowing I raised two children to be loving, kind and unique individuals
Success is accepting that I don’t fit into a traditional mold
Success is embracing and celebrating being a wanderlust
We are responsible for measuring our own success in this life; our life
Keeping it Real with Dr. Mary G
