Recently, I was asked to describe what success means in three (yep - 3) words. Seriously - three words. I can't describe anything in three words. So, I thought and thought and thought and thought and . . .
I knew how I would have described it years ago. Easy! It would have revolved around name brands, life's luxuries, name in lights, and money, money, money... But trying to come up with what success means to me today was hard to put in words.
I've realized that success isn't necessarily defined as most Americans would describe it. Polls today show that teens see success as being rich and famous. And maybe that is. But success is more than the big things we conquer. I also see the stepping stones we must conquer everyday as success.
So, I thought and thought and thought and thought some more ...
I noticed that I want to be successful as a writer, speaker, teacher, encourager, photographer, and of course not to mention wife and mother because those are things I'm passionate about. But if I never published another book would I deem myself a failure? No. If I never got to speak again would I think myself a failure? No. I was beginning to think I'd never come up with three words that describe success for me.
Finally the words living life passionately came to my mind. I pondered over them. I liked the sound of those three words. I know that if I'm not 110% sold out to what I'm doing I'm miserable. And I see true success as something that oozes true joy and peace. So I wrote them down and hit the send button. But seriously, I felt kind of dorky turning in those three words as my definition of success.
Later that evening I was recapping my day. It had been amazing! I got to serve alongside a homeless man at church. God had placed me at the right place at the right time to minister to a woman who was leaving an abusive relationship. I felt fully awake and alive! Was this success? I still found myself pondering over those three words I had turned in. Living life passionately.
Then I received a text from a friend who said "How about lunch this week?" My heart screamed YEAH!!! This was a friend who I had met over a year ago. Back then she rarely smiled or looked you in the eyes. I had seen such tremendous growth in her and was so thankful that we had exchanged numbers a few weeks before when she shared that she didn't have any good influences in her life. We set our lunch plans in motion and I was thrilled.
As I crawled into bed that night I was on cloud nine. I lay there thinking, "Yes -- this is success, living life passionately! Serving beside the homeless, encouraging the abused, and being there for a new friend who is ready to move beyond her present circumstances!" Somebody pinch me!!!
Now I'll challenge you, how would you describe success in three words?
For me it's -- living life passionately!
4 comments:
That's a hard challenge! Can I take yours? Because it is pretty perfect and very applicable to me! Will you share? :)
Thank you for your visit to TPH today!
(ps, loved your take on the ordinary in "my story.")
Great, great post!! I love your three words and I want to live life passionately. However, I think the three words I would pick are 'obedience to God'. IF I can live totally obedient to God's calling and purpose for my life, I would consider that success.
Have a great day, friend.
What a fun exercise. It sounds like you found your way pretty clearly.
My first thoughts were about family: "a happy family" or "happy, healthy family." Then I thought about my new direction toward minimalism: "a simple life."
But sometimes my directions change. And I am not in control of how my kids and husband are. I am only in control of me. So I finally settles on "true to myself." To me, any day I am true to myself is a success.
Thanks for the idea to ponder. Stopping by from SITS. Have a great day.
those are both amazing sets of three words....that is a hard challenge...one I think I'll have to sit and ponder, though I know integrity and honesty are in there somewhere.......Happy SITS day!
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