The Depression Connection Question of the Week!

Well Sherry...by your own definition then...you are a huge success because I know for a fact that you do help people...and I am one of them!  I like crafts too...what kind do you do?  Thing with me is...I rarely finish my projects...I have a huge box of unfinished projects in a closet. 

Great to see you my dear...you have a wonderful saturday and beyond!

Not everyone responds on the first day.

Hi Merely Me, everyone..If u asked me that 10yrs ago, I would have said, to be size 10 [your 6 I think] to get rid of  my 'Belly' to get my legs back, to attract the right partner, to have a well paid job, nice clothes, lotsa friends,a good car,my 100pc health back.  TODAY..SUCCESS to me is Doing the Very best with the Cards ive been dealt.

To have gone thru this life and made a difference, no matter how small. to keep on trying to make a difference, to be kind,thoughtful, human,not perfectionist anymore, to be able to love from the heart/live/write from the heart and most importantly to be able to allow myself to be loved ! To feel loveable. To be creative, To find out what God really wants of me here on Earth. To be Brave,courageous,unrelenting in striving for a better standard of living [healthwise physically and mentally] to help as many animals as possible. To be aperson that people can trust. To have a few good friends rather than a whole load of 'Fairweather friends'.To have the courage of  my convictions. To be able to take critisism and learn from same. To learn more, to travel [entails feeling fear and doing it anyway] The Kernel for success for me will simply be my life hasnot been a waste. TO EXPERIENCE CONTENTMENT WITH MY LOT

Bravo!  Oh Rose...I love this! YES!  These conclusions could only have been gained from much reflection and a wisdom of knowing yourself very well...to know what is important and what is not.  Yes...to be happy despite the circumstances...that is the key to life's contentment. 

Good stuff here...you should write a book!

Hi Lyra!

Yes I would agree that we have to give ourself credit for the smaller sucesses.  But sometimes what we view as a "small" success is really something big in the long run.  Some days for me...survival is a success.  Lots of stuff goes wrong but...hey...I am still here standing afterward and given another chance on a new day.  Sometimes you have to wipe the slate clean of all the expectations and just begin again.

I do see you as someone successful as you are trying each and every day.

There are so many things which will hinder certain outcomes...so you have to let the outcomes go and just focus soley on the attempt...what you are doing to make things happen. 

As far as your writing goes...just keep doing it.  Don't let go of your dreams. 

And independence?  Well most of us are interdependent...we do need other people and there is nothing wrong with this.  You will find your way.  I have a lot of confidence in you!

Thank you as always for sharing your experiences and thoughts here.  I admire you very much in how you are eager every day to get up and try.  That is what it is all about.

Also to stop thinking of the worst things that can happen and feeling like I'm going to be abandoned all the time.

Of course I want to be successful in the way I bring my children up,but I think these things get in the way.

Also to stop thinking of the worst things that can happen and feeling like I'm going to be abandoned all the time.

Of course I want to be successful in the way I bring my children up,but I think these things get in the way.

Hi Fifi!

I do these things too.  And I am also shy and to boot...socially awkward.  It is all the more diffcult for us to do things and especially in the social realm...it is that fear thing.  Oh yes...and abandonment...this is such a common fear for so many of us who have suffered loss and trauma as children.  One thing which may help is the thought that you can always trust in yourself and your abilities to get through...anything. 

I love our discussion here as they are so real...and get to the heart of the matter.  It is so nice to be able to talk in this way.  Thank you.

Oh this is a great list Judy!  I am still figuring out what I want to do when I grow up too!  I have thought about so many things but there is only so much time and energy.  I think this could be an exciting time to write these passions down. 

Today success for me would be to have a clean house.  Ha!  Not gonna happen but I can dream.

Very glad to see you and I hope you are enjoying the day!

Yeah young people dream of being rich and famous but that's because the world circulates around money - ever been without enough? It sucks. And actors get millions of dollars because they are getting their share of the earnings made from the movies they make - if they didn't get that pay packet it would all go to the producers, etc why is that fair? Also that's only the actors that get real success, lower actors barely get enough to live on, plus no retirement plan. If you're earning money in the acting industry your boss doesn't put a few dollars into a retirement package everytime you get a pay check, so you hope you get successful so you can save up for when you can no longer work... just a thought. It's not all roses and candy you know, it's hard work and I believe they deserve it when they get success - after all there are a lot of drawbacks like people invading your personal life all the time (everyone else gets to go home after their jobs) and the possibility of losing your income just around the corner all the time (who knows when the last paycheck you get is literally the last in a fickle world like a TV/movie one?). There are pros and cons to every job.

Dear Lyra Storm,

I do not agree with you. Not all actors make big money but those who do make millions for one movie? I don't care who gets the money actors or producers or whomeve. It is not right. Look at the wealth of the world in the hands of 5% of the population and the rest goes with little money. How is this fair? The world belongs to all the people not to the rich at the expenses of the poor. I do not agree with you.

Ciao

I agree that it's not fair that some have excess and others have nothing but I'm just saying I understand why they get the big paypackets. Besides most end up giving time and money to charities, trying to give back to those who have less.

Yes Lyra,

some actors and rich people try to give back by donations or charity work but what they pocket is still too much even considering donations. In a just world there would be enough for everyone (and there is). What we are talking about, like it or not, is called greed and it does not work. It does exist and we know why people like to get more and more money but it is pure greed. In a good society once taken care of our immediate needs (like an adequate house to live in, enough food and enough possessions like a computer, a car and all the needed things) all the extra money should go back to the people. We live in a greedy and unfair world and this is coming to an end fortunately.

I hope you're right about an end coming about for the greediness - you're right that is a very awful side of human nature. Here's to a better future.

Alfredo...you always have an interesting take on things!

Yeah it does seem that there are only three or four "stars" in the world judging by the magazines and tabloids.  But there are a good many actors and actresses who do contribute so much to our lives...imagine not having the respite of a good movie?  I do love TV and movies...this is part of my life...to let go and forget my troubles for awhile.

As a tangent...I am watching a series called "Rome" right now...I bought the entire thing on DVD...it is absolutely magnificent. 

But back to what you are saying...yes the world is an unfair place.  People make kaboodles of money doing all sorts of things we might not deem as so terribly important.  But this is human nature...to see "success" in terms of wealth, glamour, or power.  But then we see how terribly unhappy so many "successful" people are...enough to drive them into an early grave.  I would much rather be small and happy than...larger than life but empty inside.

And I don't think this is just a young person issue...plenty of us older folk fall prey to idol worship and seeking the superficial aspects of success.  I think younger people have a lot more going on than we give them credit for.  They are smart and savvy and do have outstanding values and the energy to pursue upholding those values.

Anyways...you certainly always get me to thinking and babbling.  Thank you for your thoughts.

Hi Suzanne!

This is such a wonderful perspective.  I think you are a success because your family loves you and you love them.  Nobody asks to be ill.  It happens and the love of family is so important.  I am so very glad you are able to share this part of your life with us.  You help others who are going through similar circumstances.  

Good to see you my friend!  You have a great day!

Also, are you making a difference, and if so what kind of difference.  Personally I do not want to be famous, I do not want people to know what I have done.  What ever I do I do my best to fly under under the radar. If I do something for someone I try to do it in secret, because I do not want anyone to know that I have done anything for them.  For instance, in my church if someone is sick or it it their birthday, I will make a handmade basket or card or one of my crafts, and on the card I will put SHHHHHH! on it, the success comes in is when I see them smile, and I know that they have been made to feel better, "job complete.  Most of the time, they cannot hold it in they have to telll it, I get embrassed!  I just bought the "CRICKIT Machine" that you see advertised, I am going to use that thing to death look out folks! But that is how our contribute success to the outcome, I am a giver, I have no money, but I have always been taught that you never receive with a closed hand, and I have to job! 
Go figure! But I consider myself a success!  OK I am finished!  sherry/smomdukes