“Success is a journey, not a destination.”
This was somehow an inspiring sentiment in my teen years. Back then I wore my perseverant nature as a badge of honor and believed (vehemently) it would be the key to my success. But then…adulthood.
Staying alive, keeping other human(s) alive, and the simple act of breathing took a lot more effort than I expected.
By the age of, let’s say 43, this quote and “success being a journey” concept pricked at my soul like needles. I didn’t *want* it to be a journey, I wanted to arrive! And with each new station-stop on the journey, I felt “success” further away instead of nearer to my grasp.
Still do.
Success feels somewhere just beyond that vanishing point.
Do you think success is an end or a journey? Click To Tweet
Are We There Yet?
Over the last ten years particularly I’ve turned my life over (and over) and changed course in drastic ways. Again, my first simple objective is to keep us alive with the secondary hope of finding whatever new version of success I envisioned.
This year notwithstanding, our pace and pursuits were frantic and broad. Plenty of movement, some of it forward.
Failure
Accepting that failure is also part of the process remains a tough pill to take.
And failure, like success, is not final. Or rather, doesn’t have to be.
“When we give ourselves permission to fail, we, at the same time, give ourselves permission to excel.” – Eloise Ristad
Many of us are “failing” right now. Learning from our missteps and not succumbing to dispair over them is a tricky balance.
Do you think failures are bumps or ends? Click To TweetThis year I’ve taken blows that were clearly “no confidence” votes and perhaps each were deserved. This year I haven’t been physically resilient and that’s hampered my progress.
The swings I took, regardless of training, have resulted in several strikeouts and an occasional base run. It’s been a while since I hit a home run.
But! However!
Today is a new day.
Recently I shared on The Medium an article examining “The Tests of Time: Five Lessons that apply in this and all times.“ Including this note:
“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” — C.S. Lewis
I am proud that Quinn and Marcus and I, each and altogether, pursue learning and improving as lifelong habits. Over the years I’ve witnessed people who have chosen to stop growing and just meander from day to day, without intention or desire. We may have failures, but we have not given up!
I have had “successes” I just don’t feel I’ve *reached* success, which is why I keep working and keep pursuing. Maybe I’ll never get there. Maybe that’s part of why we keep going.
Last week I read “Future self strategy” in Fast Company. And it helped. In these difficult pull-up-your-bootstraps-times, and because today and tomorrow are so overwhelming, it may actually be easier to tackle the goals for five and ten years ahead, the “Me I want to be” – knowing the changes are incremental, instead of forcing what looks too hard and too much to tackle right now.
What have you learned this year that strengthened your resolve or taught you endurance? Click To TweetMaybe this is the decade I learn to appreciate “the process.” (Maybe! It could happen…) I’m stubborn but teachable.
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This is a photo prompt and #BlogHop with our friends at Finish the Sentence Friday – the question is: “Are We There Yet?” What’s your take?
You’re so right that continuing to learn, no matter how old or what you learn, kind of “resets” that journey. Now we start HERE, or HERE, or HERE, which proves your original point that we’re always on the journey that defines success. It’s never going to be over. Oh boy. I’m going to need to sit down with a bag of Oreos and absorb this!
Lol! Thanks 🙂
I love your attitude and the lifestyle your family lives in continuing to learn and grow. I think it’s interesting how we think “once I do _______, I’ll have found success,” especially in writing. I remember years ago thinking “once I get in HuffPo, that’s success.” And then one day, I was on HP Parents home page, and it was exciting, but also didn’t feel as big as I thought it would, ya know? Anyway, I needed to read this. I think I’ve lost some momentum over the past months and question whether I have a passion project, and so much else. I know each of us is confused and frustrated right now, and afraid, too, which doesn’t spell motivation, but I think I really need to re-focus on learning something new or picking up something I used to be fueled by. Or something. Anyway. Huge love to you all.
This is my favorite part: I have had “successes” I just don’t feel I’ve *reached* success.
It’s interesting how each of us is defining “there” – and for the most part, none of us have a very good grasp of what it really is…
I missed the link up. But, if you’re interested: https://livingcenter.me/2020/08/31/there-and-here/
xoxox
I’m hearing the same sentiment at almost every turn: these are hard times.
True, that.
We do what we can. Some days are better than others.
I try to keep the big picture in mind, the long term, and I have the patience of a giant tortoise, evidently.
Also, I feel that in place of the word “regardless,” you could’ve used “irregardless,” or even “not-un-irregardfully.” It’s 2020, after all, so…what? You’re gonna create “murder hornets” or something?
Well, I’d like to see THAT!
Yes, yes, you’re very funny.