Success... what does it mean for you?

Success as defined by Dictionary.com:
noun

the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one's goals.

the attainment of wealth, position, honors, or the like.

a performance or achievement that is marked by success, as by the attainment of honors:

The play was an instant success.

a person or thing that has had success, as measured by attainment of goals, wealth, etc.:

She was a great success on the talk show.
My experience with success and how society views success is based on #accomplishments and how much #money we have in our bank account.  Is this what success means to you?  For women, I believe we try to do it all and have it all, and at the expense of our health and peace of mind. Some work themselves towards #stress and neglect #self-care and give until they either end up on medication, in the hospital, or dead.  I have my own personal experience with this very thing but will save that for another post.

Let's stop and reflect on what we truly need and want for ourselves and for our loved ones.  My dad used to tell us we work so we can enjoy our lives; save for a rainy day but don't kill yourself trying to get rich.  My parents showed us a good life.  We did not grow up with excess and always had just enough with lots of loving memories, joy and laughter.  We need to practice self-care so we can continue to give to everyone else as usual.  Make time for YOU.

Being married 26 years, it's been an exciting ride...many ups and downs like many other couples.  We have no kids of our own but enjoy our siblings children and grandchildren and make memories with them.  My dear hubby spoiled me for many of those years until he became sick himself.  Now we try to share the load as it were, especially with the physical things we need to do... grocery shopping, household chores, errands, etc. It's hard but we make it happen as we are both disabled now.

The past few months have been somewhat stressful.  Taking time off from working, caring for my husband, lots of prayers, and trying to get back into the workforce.  Being kind of crazy in my own way, I'm keeping busy by helping others.  How can I do that when I'm worried about the bills piling up and caring for my husband?  Well, it's not easy.  I can say that much.  However, I've found that when we are going through hard times, lean times, the not so great times, that's when helping others in need is the best time to give of myself.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not giving monetary help.  I'm offering my time and talent to help others in meaningful ways that matter to them.  During the hardest times is when we should make time to give thanks, show our gratitude to the Almighty and to the world.  We can share our time and talent with others who may need you at just the right time.

I'm also reading a lot and have recently been participating in LinkedIn conversations and other social media and planning to contribute with some thoughtful content... working towards that and hope to do so very soon.  With social media... FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter, it may seem like a waste of time to others, but I use it to connect with others including family and friends and to make new friends.  The upside of social media is staying connected.  As long as we are not living online, I say it's okay.

All the sharing and learning allows me to appreciate the concept of being a lifelong learner, a "modern elder", and having a growth mindset.

Lifelong learning is the "ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated" pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons. Therefore, it not only enhances social inclusion, active citizenship, and personal development, but also self-sustainability, as well as competitiveness and employability. 

Modern Elder:  https://www.getold.com/the-modern-elder-learn-everywhere-belong-everywhere

For people like me who, I love sharing this link!  I found Chip Conley when I had to read an article for one of my business classes a few months ago and being in that same age group now, I've found that it is possible to work basically forever and successfully with other generations!  Yeah!!  Bring it on Baby boomers, gen X, gen Z, and Millienials!  We can make our world a thriving place filled with love, laughter, and much joy as we work our way towards success.

Read:  Having a growth mindset by Carol Dweck (Harvard Business Review article)

Individuals who believe their talents can be developed (through hard work, good strategies, and input from others) have a growth mindset. They tend to achieve more than those with a more fixed mindset (those who believe their talents are innate gifts). This is because they worry less about looking smart and they put more energy into learning. 

The growth mindset is something students, K-12, are being taught right now in all schools across the nation.  I love the concept that everyone can be successful at learning. We just need to make time and kids are being shown that we all can learn and do great in school and work life.

So back to the word #SUCCESS.  Let's define it for ourselves.  What is success for you and for me?  I personally know and love several moms who have raised their children to be respectful and thoughtful and loving and caring.  They may not have a job with a six-figure income, not even 5-figures, but they are a truly happy family.  That's one huge success you can add to your life's resume!