Skip to main content

The meaning of success and how


I sat down to write today about being cast/boot free. It is a joy to be back to my 'normal' state of mobility - which is to say that I stumble and totter like a drunken sailor but at least now I'm not wearing a big black boot. Ahoy matey!

But instead, I came across the above quote and being easily distracted, I began to think about it instead. (Heck, I'm tired of the damn cast and don't want to waste anymore time thinking or writing about it anyway.) It's a quote my Aunt Bonnie first introduced me too when I graduated from high school and it's come on my radar many times since then, but today for some reason it has given me pause.

I laugh often, to be sure. I'm like the uncle in Mary Poppins - I love to laugh. I surround myself with people that make me smile and laugh and am grateful for a husband that still knows how to make me laugh.

I'm not to sure about winning the respect of intelligent people, though. I tend to think out of the box and out loud and that isn't always the way to earn respect. But I know for sure that I've earned the affection of children (aside from the three not so little Piggins) and my affection for children runs deep. I love to talk to children - really talk AND listen to them - from toddlers to teens. Ironically, as a teen though I wasn't overly fond of children and was the second-string babysitter to sister Kelli who is still a kid-magnet to this day.

I am confident that I've left the world a better place - having three children that each seem to striving to make the world a better place. I am grateful that I had the time and luxury to be the overly-involved mom and pour into them all that I had to give. I am proud of the legacy of Michael, Matthew and Delaney. And I am also confident that I have made my life-partner, John's life, a little easier during some tough patches. (though I made his life more challenging on many occasions, to be sure!)

So by Mr. Emerson's barometer, my life has been a success so far. I have been spending a lot of time in recent years studying the Bible and when I ruminate of what success looks like for a Christian, it is to not focus on what worldly matters (like material goods or attaining physical perfection). It is closely aligned to what Emerson writes:

* God wants us to live in peace knowing He is in control and through that peace we can find joy and laughter;
* Earning respect of intelligent people - God wants for us to live our lives righteously and in doing so, we will find respect.
* Affection of children - God wants us to protect and teach and love our children. If we do these things children will have affection and love in return.
* Leaving the world a better place - if we live according to God's will for us, we will be leaving a better world.
* One life a little easier - isn't that what living according to God's will is all about?

I hope this is post has made at least one person find peace and security in knowing that they've achieved success! Because, I believe that is why I was so easily distracted and lead to write this post. Have a wonderful day!

Comments

It's not a popularity contest, but ...

Francis of Assisi would run away from home if he lived here!

The title might be a bit extreme - Francis might just go to his room and shut the door and put a pillow over his head to silence the 'noise'. I have done that on occasion. And not because I have toddlers, or a kid that plays the drums or even really loud kids - it's because I live in a house where there is one lawyer, one law school student, and two more potential lawyers. And me - the one singing "Let there be peace on earth . . ." The other four Piggins family members enjoy debating. Sometimes, I think for the sake of the debate. John, Michael, Matthew and Delaney seem to really like these 'discussions'. For instance, we were watching a television show recently - I cannot even recall which one, but it seemed fairly bland - when one of the barrister Piggins made a comment that inspired disagreement from another barrister Piggins. That inspired another from another. And then one more from another until the four of them were debating on some point that wa...

You don't know me . . .

I stopped blogging for awhile. I know some might think that I was being lazy, or overly-involved in some community or school venture or in the middle of some really good books or projects. While all of those are true, that's not the main reason. I stopped because it felt strange to be somewhere and have someone refer to something I wrote. It was like they knew a secret about me (though secrets are not usually published on the Web) that I hadn't shared with them. Though in reality I had shared because I wrote it on the blog.  Truth be told, I don't know who reads this - I have a smattering of followers but a lot more readers. Blogger lets me see how many page views for each posting and I can even tell the referral site. The most I have had for any post was 152 and I've had readers from as far away as New Zealand (thank you Gretchen) and Alaska. Most readers are referred through Facebook. I know that if I were more diligent, I could market the crap out of the blog ...

Not your average church lady

I spent this morning at Bible Study Fellowship where I'm a group leader. This afternoon, I spent 2 1/2 hours online shopping for supplies for a simulcast we are hosting at our church. More specifically, the simulcast is sponsored by our women's ministry - the ministry I volunteered to lead about a year ago. And then later this afternoon, I emailed & texted & called about a fundraising event our women's ministry is hosting in about 3 weeks. I had a conversation with our Pastor this evening. And just a short while ago, I worked on my Bsf lesson (while sipping my Cabernet). And it hit me - a comical thought if there ever was one ... I've become the church lady!! Now isn't that special! And crazy??!! The 20-something Kathleen Bowen is certainly rolling over in her boozy or hung-over stooper and saying something like "What? Are you crazy? I haven't been to church in a really long time!" And while I'm a long way from THAT 20-somethi...