Posted on 03/24/2014 1:16:42 AM PDT by carlo3b
****BREAKING NEWS****ALERT THE MEDIA****STOP THE PRESSES****
Sit down Sammy, Hold ma beer Bertha, Holy Samoli…
I HAVE DISCOVERED…
DRUM ROLL PLEASE…
“THE SECRET OF SUCCESS”
Developing, more to come, stand by, please…….
When I went to bed last evening, I was just as I have always been, as I am sure everyone else is, clueless as to what is the true “Secret Of Success”.. OK, I know.. I understand your reluctance in accepting my claim as authentic, however, this is the best I can do until I fill you in on the facts..
In what can only be described as an Euphony, a Divine Intervention, or a Revelation that became so clear that I could hardly contain my enthusiasm. Before I explain this further, I want to prepare you for the answer, and make a prediction that will have you face palm, or slap your forehead in shock, that it was, and is, so obvious that we all should have realized it so much sooner, and saved so much grief, and suffering..
Not to prolong the mystery, or build the bridge to a cliff, I would like you to try to figure it out, with me, and enjoy the ride to achieving your dream of, success in your life. To start, let’s agree on what is success, to you, which is certainly different to all of us..
FIRST, what do you think is the most important common goal, we would all agree upon is a state of mind that can be best described as a successful life. WOW, pretty daunting right? To some of us it has a dollar sign, to others, it would be the place where you live.
I have known folks that believe success is to be just plain, Health, which is really a major achievement if they have had a debilitating illness or disability. I am telling you this now, whatever you think your answer is, will probably change by the time we finish this short exercise..
SECOND, why do we diet, exercise, buy makeup, change hair color, or any number of physical enhancements to improve our appearances? If you were better looking, or lets go even further, and say you were a Knock Out, would that be success? If that was truly success why do some beautiful people destroy themselves with drugs, and some, suicide? That said, how come some really rich, pretty folks, end up in divorce court, or on therapist couch? I guess you really can’t tell a book by it’s cover..
One can look at the same scenario with Career achievement. This is not to say that one’s upward mobility isn’t something to herald, or to take pride in, it is clearly a marker. Just not enough to call it quits. The woman or man that works hard should, and usually achieves greater glory. After all, those are the rules, right? Well, we all know the rules don’t always work, and sometimes, they work against us. A job title is just words, and it is how much we want, or need those words that matters..
We are all born with something that separates us from everyone else. However, there are folks that are born with extraordinary talent, and we reward those talents in extraordinary ways, like actors, singers, and to a great degree, athletes. Not that they don’t need to hone their skills, they were born with a heads-up. Other of us may have talents that matter more to mankind, than being able to sing, but are not rewarded nearly as much..
We call that Life.. I can tell you from personal experience, celebrities’ aren’t any happier than you are.. Ask O J Simpson, or Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won an Oscar in 2012, and still suffered from depression to the extent that he overdosed on drugs less than 2 years later..
We’re getting close.. So, where are we on the meaning of success? Superficial isn’t it, financial doesn’t mean squat, and celebrity is a matter of taste. All of the things that we have discussed are targets to success, but only you define success. I know what success is, because I have been imbued with that certain knowledge since this morning.
THREE.. CLUES.. 1) A ROLLING STONE, 2) GAMESHOW, 3) MY UNCLE JOE..
I’ll clear up the Uncle Joe thing quickly. My great uncle, took me in as a baby, and also provided a home not only for me, but for his mother-in-law, my great grandmother, for 30 years. He was born in 1899, of modest means, finished 6th grade, and never attained more than that of a delivery man. He died, 30 years ago, about the same, except he was the happiest man I ever knew. Last night before I fell asleep, I remembered this was the first year that I forgot his birthday, January 25th, and I was terribly ashamed..
Gameshow, was a major feature film that chronicled a scandal involving an immensely popular game show on early TV. The show was exposed to be a fraud, to the utter amazement, and deep disappointment of millions of viewers, who trusted that the winner, a handsome, Ivy League professor, and the son of a respected author/professor, was in on the fix. It was the death of innocence in TV, and the reality that nothing is as it seems..
Mick Jagger, couldn’t find any satisfaction outside of the stage. His rolling stones, where often too hot to handle, in and out of trouble, as much as he was in and out of personal relationships. With all of that money and fame, aside, he isn’t happy yet, according to him in a recent interview.
There we are, what is success? What would make you feel successful? Let me suggest you may already be there, or a lot closer than you think, or maybe you should rethink your priorities. Success is a state of mind that accompanies achievement and contentment with oneself, and the satisfaction that you don’t need MORE. It’s looking at life and not expecting something that you cannot achieve, without sacrificing more than you are willing to put out.
Yes, you may be your limit to success. You are watching the grass growing in a field that is really just weeds. Is stressing for more, worth it when you might not find satisfaction in the ultimate goal, or what you thought it would be. You may have to give up too much to get it. Find happiness in your heart, in your relationships, in your soul. Living ahead of yourself, spending before you earn it, wanting something you know, is beyond your means, is never worth the stress of paying for it..
I remembered my uncle asking me as I ran out of the house, late for my second job, so I could afford a new car, is it really worth it? HUH? I didn’t understand what he was asking me. I bought the car and was thrilled with it for the first 6 months to a year, but had to pay for it for 3 years, long after the thrill was gone. I changed cars before they were paid off for 25 years, until I realized that my fancy car wasn’t important to anyone that mattered in the big picture of my life..
Joyce Hall, the sole owner of the world’s largest privately held corporation, at the time I worked with him, Hallmark Cards, drove himself to work every day in a 4 year old stripped down Chevy. The 90 year old billionaire once told me, to my amazement, that he was never as happy as he was traveling the Kansas plains, carrying a box camera, and a suitcase, selling farmers his penny postcards, with his invention, their picture on the front. He said he made 60% profit on each sale, the most he ever made, with no employees. He told me that he never had so little stress and so much satisfaction since..
I believe he was telling me something, the same thing my uncle was trying to get me to understand. It is the secret that is no secret at all. Success is as close as your next paycheck that pays all of the bills, and provides your food and shelter, with a bit left over for the memories that you should be making each and every day. Your being alive, half-assed healthy, having been born in America, free, is a success story to a citizen living almost anywhere else in the world..
CONGRATULATIONS!
*What did you expect? *We’re Americans!*
Pretty perceptive my FRiend.. I fancy myself more opportunityistic than opportunist.. I'm not afraid, or ashamed to jump on a bandwagon, or ride a wave..
If I had a leg-up in my achievements, was my vision of the future of the wave.. In other words, I looked at a fad and tried to envision it's natural evolution.. The gamble came in betting the family farm on my prediction..
The magnitude of the wager on the potential return of investment, was calculated on my willingness to trust my judgement, thus my success was measured by the length of my neck.. Ha!
You my dear FRiend are breathing RAREFIED air..
You ARE successful because you realize it.. Too many folks haven't enjoyed that feeling of accomplishment, because they haven't taken the time to asses their own achievements, as a victory..
They squandered that opportunity, watching with envy the other guy on a higher rung of the latter, not knowing what he may have lost on the rise..
The real cause of a midlife crisis, is the recognition of the fractured pieces of dreams, scattered about, and left behind in relationships, after adding up the true cost of the climb.. I know all too well..
Help his neighbors and Take care of himself.
When he does these three things to the best of his ability he meets God's Measure of a Man.
How much clearer can it be said..? It is so good to see once again my dear FRiend, we're a long, long, way from Elan aren't we? It was an interesting journey indeed.. :)
Sometimes it's the simplest tool in the box that gets the problem fixed the quickest.. Thank you.. :)
Stirring the sauce while it's still cooking, more often than not, improves the outcome.. I still see it as my duty to teach how to live a better life..
Sometimes I reach for a much bigger pot.. :)
Good to see you once again My dear Friend.. :)
At least your not pushing Bitcoin!
Glad to see you made it back Carlo3b!
It's amazing how many people miss the real point, isn't it? If they would scratch their heads and figure out what they are missing in life instead of scratching those Damned cards, 1-100,000,000 chance, they'd win every day.. RIGHT?.. LOL
OMG, can you believe there are adults that are still looking for the TOOTH FAIRY.. ha!
Our Gene pool was too shallow for that opportunity, I had to look for a fall-back position.. LOLOLOL
I was once interviewed by a young reporter that asked me if I had any advice to give younger kids as "Get Rich Quicker, Scheme"! I answered "Three jobs!"
He waited a few moments and finally said, "Thats it?" I said "Yep, thats it, works every time!.. Next.. :)
Here we are again, my dear girl, I’m still shootin my mouth.. LOLOLOLOL
Yep.. Priorities in place.. Carlo 3b, Dad/Chef/Author.. :)
After what I have been through in the last 5 years.. He has, my dear FRiend, indeed He has.. Thanks.. Carlo
Funny how we don't hear that as much as when Reagan was at the helm, isn't it? Have faith my fellow Freepers, have faith in Americans to recover from these despots in quick order, once we get them the Hell out of our lives..
VOTE, get your friends and family and whomever you can drag to the polls in November and beyond.. VOTE, PROMOTE, POKE, whatever.. :)
That "lottery mentality" extends way beyond literally playing the lottery and other forms of gambling. Most lawsuits are driven by unrealistic expectations. Love life, work advancement, you name it - unrealistic expectations can bear sour fruit, disappointment. Unrealistic expectations can be a force for good too, depending on how a person takes failure. But very few people take it (failure, disappointment) well.
But happiness, well, that is literally a state of mind. It is also a powerful force.
That “lottery mentality” extends way beyond literally playing the lottery and other forms of gambling.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
I used to gamble and it got to the point where 2 flys would be nearby and ‘we’ would bet on which one landed closest to ____??.
I have been WAY up and WAY down and life is sure a lot better when one is WAY up.
It took a while but I finally realized it wasn’t the winning or losing (other than the ‘deep’ depression when figuring out how to pay off that loss) it was basically the ‘action’, the ‘thrill of the chase’.
I eventually stopped and restrict my ‘gambling’ to the “lotto” that has an ‘instant payout’ of 100 million plus.
But even that has its limits - I won’t stand in line for a ticket (well a couple of people BUT if ‘they’ start putting together combinations etc, I will NOT wait), I will NOT put back a loaf of bread or stop the gas pump early so as to have the ‘5 bucks’ to try and hit the 400 million jackpot.
Fortunately, VA has many outlets so waiting for tickets is rare.
And when the payoff of 400 mill goes to another ‘person’ I look at it as I ‘won’ because I am now saving (about) 10 bucks a week till it builds up again.
Well since I no longer drink, smoke or gamble, I am working on that 3rd million, HAVING long ago given up on the 1st two mill.
At this particular stage in my being,
When I set sail for that ‘home port’ in the sky,
no one will have to worry about paying a huge inheritance tax,
there will be no ‘fight’ over my possessions
but I do know that I left behind 2 successful daughters and some great grandkids and have started with a greatgrandkid..
My epitaph could/should read.
HE Could have done better.
HE Could have done worse.
BUT he did Serve his Country, also doing his part in helping to make the World and Country a ‘better’ place,
doing the best he was able with what he had.
Or even...
May you be long dead, buried and present in Heaven, long before the Devil even suspects you are ill.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.