Meaning of success

“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 little 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 the meaning of success.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I saw this on Big B's blog and remembered that I had posted the same in my blog also probably a year or more back. My mind started a status inquiry, have I been successful? Here is the dissection:

• To laugh often and much; ---> Yes I do that often and make efforts to keep humor in my life, my thought is Life is fatal, no point being serious about it :)
• to win the respect of intelligent people ---> My work helps me here, I try to keep my curiosity and hard work in sync, I thank God that He has given me enough IQ as well to gain decent respect from intelligent people; surely its visible in their eyes when I am able to add value to our conversations
• and the affection of children; ---> basic courtesy and ample attention is all what is required to gain affection of children, even though I am child-less, I have understood this from my interactions with children
• to earn the appreciation of honest critics ---> Again my work helps here, no one signs on the dotted lines and pays top dollars for my creative solutions without 'critical appreciation' :)
• and endure the betrayal of false friends; ---> ah well, this is touche' ..all I can say is yes, I barely managed to 'endure' .. yes it took all my energy and life spirit to come out of betrayal of friends who claimed to be true friends but weren't
• to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; ---> doesn't come natural but I indeed make efforts to see good part of others and turn blind eye to bad part ... another saying comes to mind... love like you've never been hurt ... tough but my conscience says thats the way girl!
• to leave the world a little 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. ---> Yes indeed ... this is indeed work in progress... believe me, nothing brings more peace to heart than to know that one life has breathed easier because you've done something

*smiles* *smiles* yes, indeed I am a successful woman! I surely have no regrets and also no wants no asks, even if I breathe my last just this moment. :-)