That mad race, for success
A mighty title in a large organization, a large home, children in a well known school or a college of repute, a car that people take notice of…….these are some of the trappings many of us race for and run the race believing that its only when we end the race we should have the best. Does thos race really end? This is a race of comparison, to reach a role that is better than our colleague’s, to have a better house than my neighbour, our children getting higher grades than our neighbours’ children, relatives’ children, colleagues’ children. Once they better we race to better that. Finally the price we pay is that of stress, fatigue, disenchantment with the role, the job, not to talk of the expenses of running a large home, maintaining it. Prodding and pushing our children to excel and get full marks, take up subjects that they do not enjoy, trodiing on their dreams to fulfill our dreams.
What happens if we change the scenario.
Working in a company in a role that makes us satisfied, we feel our capabilities being utilised, we know our collegues and work well with them, it does not matter if some have larger, better titles. Our children working to the best of their capability, working hard to pursue topics that they love and enjoy, happy with little improvements in grades, a lower score is for introspection rather than a burden to carry. Children learning at their pace without worrying about the next test and the next set of grades. Each child blossoming into the person they truly are and flurishing in what they do. A home to come home to, a place where we have what we need and we can enjoy.
Let us change the defitinion of success to being happy. Happiness should be the one factor defining success because we
Study and get qualified
Work and have a career
Build a family and a home
Educate and bring up children
So that we can be happy and satisfied
Ensure that our children are happy
That they cherish us and remember us
Because we let them fly in the diection they wanted to
And not keep them captive for fulfilling our dreams
so that we derive our happiness from theirs
Little Drops of Memories 
Brilliant, Preeti! Keep writing! The world needs more sane voices.
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Very well written and I relate to all of it. The irony is that we, at some point in time, realize but fail to incorporate. Ultimately, the day this mad crowd can fix the quest to rush towards the mirage, stop believing in the “never never nest” concept of lifestyle, and outcome-based happiness, it shall redefine SUCCESS. Your words remind me of some of my realizations yet to be worked upon.
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