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My bestie from high school sent me a card a long time ago that had the poem SUCCESS by Ralph Waldo Emerson on it. I loved it so much that I put it in a frame and placed it in my bathroom for years. It read:
“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.”
Although it seems simple and ordinary in concept, it’s deeply extraordinary to me. To show up everyday and try our best. To be kind. Help others. Listen. Care. It’s simple in nature, but deeply meaningful. In 2019, I want to truly define my success by these things. To pay attention and hopefully know that even one life has breathed easier because I have lived. This is to have succeeded.
