“ What is your greatest success?
Your book?
Your career?
Money you made?
Secured future of your children?”, my 20 year son asked me on phone.
He grown closer to me since he left home to study abroad, a year back. Thanks to the Phone, we connect better now.
We talk for hours these days, which earlier was limited to few words in days together when he was here.
“Before I talk about my greatest success, what is the definition of success?”, I replied.
He seemed confused.
I said, “If a billionaire can achieve success by virtue of making billions, if a poor man can achieve success by virtue of managing two meals for his child and wife, than the definition of success is, to each his own”.
He agreed.
I said, “To me, my Success is synonymous to Satisfaction.
And to answer your question, no it’s neither my Book, nor the money I made, nor career, nor my children’s secure future.
Those are definitely, sources of satisfaction. But I won’t call none of those as my greatest.”
“Then What?”. He quipped.
“My greatest success is my ability to wake up super positive every morning, after having faced a series of failures in life, loosing almost all my savings, watching the looks of my closest ones, silently questioning my decisions and doubting my abilities.
My greatest Satisfaction is, going to bed every night, knowing I have a long rough terrain ahead, however not having a tiny dot of doubt in my ability to make it a better tomorrow, without losing an ounce of optimism.
Look, I never belonged to the category, who plan their retired life on Provident Fund and Father care support.
To me life is not just about looking good! Life is about standing out.
And I stand out.
And that I consider my greatest success.”