October 14, 2022

Reflection

SIGNIFICANT  OR  SUCCESSFUL

On Oprah today, there was  a guy named Holden on her program. He is a psychologist who has a book out on happiness.  He said what an undertaker had just said: "It's more important to be significant that to be successful." [August 23,  2007]

Significant or successful?

Success:  there is a need to reflect upon that.

For example: to raise a successful family? To have a successful job? To have a successful season?

I suppose the key is to do one's best - to serve and to love - and if one has a kid who chooses otherwise and messes up - one still one's best.

As to baseball and football only one team wins the World Series - or the Superbowl - so how does a team measure a successful season?  To have broken even or made money?  To provide good games - and great plays on the field.  To have had fun and enjoyed their jobs?

Success? Define it? Describe it?

Significant seems the more successful word - when it comes to comparing words.

But what is significant?

It seems significant is more significant than successful.

To be able to sign one's  name to one's painting or work.

To have made a difference.

To be a sign to others.

I'm not trying to be smart - but the sign of the cross is the sign of a failure - or is it the sign of resurrection and the secret of life?

To die for others.

To be a sign for others.

To lay down one's life for others - for a right cause.

Is that the ultimate success and the more ultimate significance?