How do You define Success?

The American Heritage College Dictionary defines success as: “ 1. The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted. 2.a. The gaining of fame or prosperity .b. the extent of such gain.”

I am especially interested in the second part of the definition because this is how most people would define success. Success is directly  associated with money, power and fame. 

 Unfortunately we all know stories of people who acquire immense wealth, are perceived as successful only to find out they live miserable lives in terms of health or family dynamics. Material wealth requires enormous sacrifices and it is often repeated that “money can’t buy happiness”.

Material possession  is only one of the many components of a successful living. Success is a complex journey. Money will make the journey more comfortable but not necessarily easier. 

To be successful you must develop essential traits such as knowledge, love, respect, patience, respect, appreciation, wisdom and integrity.  The development of these characteristics requires discipline and work.

Success is the ability of living a well-balanced life which includes:

·         physical, mental  and emotional health

·         fulfilling relationships

·         freedom to be and to create

·         passion and energy towards life

·         religious or spiritual well -being

·         material possession

I have a theory that you can judge someone's success at their funeral.  I am not trying to be morbid but your funeral will reflect the quality of life you lived.

Think about it!!

How many people will show up to genuinely honor the life you lived?

How many of those people will remember you by the positive ways you touch their lives?

In what ways will you contribute to leave the Earth better that when you first got here?

Now I want to share a few  of my favorite success quotes:

Maya Angelou

Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.

 Bill Cosby

 In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure.

Margaret Thatcher

What is success? I think it is a mixture of having a flair for the thing that you are doing; knowing that it is not enough, that you have got to have hard work and a certain sense of purpose.

Winston Churchill

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

Pablo Picasso

Action is the foundational key to all success. 

Nelson Mandela

Money won't create success, the freedom to make it will. 

Albert Einstein 

Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value. 

Colin Powell

There are no secrets to success: don’t waste time looking for them. Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty to those for whom you work, and persistence.

Reba McEntire

To succeed in life, you need three things: a wishbone, a backbone and a funny bone.  

Marianne Williamson

Success means we go to sleep at night knowing that our talents and abilities were used in a way that served others. 

Helen Keller

Your success and happiness lie in you.

Woody Allen

Eighty percent of success is showing up

Madeleine Albright

I was taught to strive not because there were any guarantees of success but because the act of striving is in itself the only way to keep faith with life.

Dr. Seuss

So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains.

Joy to all :)!!

Celebrating Self Love

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection”
― Gautama Buddha

Being a single person on February can be tough. chances are you are being bombarded by roses, hearts, teddy bears, engagement rings and  happy couples all  wrapped in red and pink! 

 I've always felt like an outcast during "valentine season". The main reason being my belief that LOVE as the supreme force of the universe and the core of the human soul, should and must be CELEBRATED EVERYDAY. Another reason is the emphasis placed on romantic love, the love between couples... what about SELF LOVE ?!  You don't necessarily need to be in a romantic relationship  to love and feel loved!

The most complex and important relationship that we have is with ourselves. If you are not able to have a healthy relationship with yourself you will never feel whole and satisfy with your life. Chances are you  also developed unhealthy relationships with others!!! YOU ARE YOUR NUMBER ONE STAR. Love starts in you, you are made of it. 

That being said,  I came up with a list of 10 things single folks like myself or maybe anyone can do to express love to themselves.  Here it goes:

1. Be grateful for life...your life, your body, your soul. Be grateful that you are you and nobody else!

2. Connect with your tribe (parents, siblings,cousins, friends, old friends, pets...) Creatures that love you unconditionally, feel their love and express your love to them. Don't wait,  do it now!!!

3. Cook yourself a meal! Even if your cooking skills are not impressive, try it out... make a mess. Feed your hunger with starch and sugar or whatever makes your mouth water.  Food is love!

4. Buy yourself flowers, your favorite ones, just walk in a store and buy some. Buy flowers for no reason, buy them because you are  happy and the sun is shining. Buy them because you had a rough day and it is raining...  Write a love note to yourself  expressing your qualities and uniqueness.  What do you love most about yourself ? Is it your smile, your loving heart, your crazy laughter... Tell yourself how awesome it is to be you!!!

5. Pamper yourself!! Lose yourself in water, take a hot shower or a bath. Lit your candles and incense. Rub oils in your body, touch you belly, rub your feet, feel them!

6.Laugh your butt off. Watch comedy, a funny movies or talk to someone who makes you laugh. Laugh till your belly hurts and your eyes are watering...

7. Dance by yourself, dance for yourself. Seduce yourself, dance with no shoes and no pants... touch your hair and sweat out. Move like you do in your dreams, move like you were watching.

8. Take pictures of yourself! Keep them private...for your eyes only. You need no external validation! Keep them in a folder or album, they are now your secret.

9.Kiss yourself in the mirror as children do!! Everyday... kiss slowly, kiss fast, kiss deeply looking into your own eyes. Feel that love in your heart... 

10.Touch you body... Every part of it, as you would want a lover touching it... Use your hands!! Feel your curves, smell your fragrances... Be your own aphrodisiac, love yourself, please your body. Kiss your hands and touch your body, love yourself until it’s imprinted by your love only.  As Dr. Seuss put it  "there is no one alive who is youer than You." 

Joy to all!