Been thinking a lot lately about the nature of success and what is means to be a success. What is it exactly do we work for? What is the goal we strive toward and why do we strive in the first place? Yes, perhaps this is my mid-life existential crisis, but to be fair I’ve always had a tendency toward the big, over-arching ‘why are we all here?’ questions. Which can make me a lot of fun at parties as you can imagine.

Recently a dear friend of mine, who has been going through some very difficult times and suffering personal tragedies that are too great to remark on here, sent me this quote which happened to sum up exactly what success and legacy should be about.

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 lived. This is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Perfect.

I fallen behind a bit again so the next few days will be a flurry of activity on the site. A new Temptations & Trespasses post tomorrow as well as a new Top 5 and other sundry things.

Someday I will succeed in doing these things on time, until then I’m off to appreciate beauty and laugh much. Thanks Ralph.