Usagi Yojimbo DojoBoard

This question was asked in a book I'm reading. It suggested asking friends for their definitions, so I'm asking all of you!

Being happy.

Never "wanting" the basics-- and being happy.

cynlee wrote:Never "wanting" the basics-- and being happy.

Never having to "worry" about the basics, and being in a situation where your occupational, recreational, and financial pursuits all mesh together along with your domestic responsabilities in order to allow yourself enough of what you want in life to be happy. For me, that means having steady employment at a wage large enough to keep my needs of food, shelter, and other basic requirements met, allows me time to spend with family, and allows enough spare cash to pursue my hobbies, all of which combined keeps me relatively happy.

My first thought for an answer to this question was: A perfect definition (example?) of success would be Stan Sakai!

Andy wrote:This question was asked in a book I'm reading. It suggested asking friends for their definitions, so I'm asking all of you!

Hello Andy,

I love your question.

I define my success as behaving in ways that are consistent with my values. But that is not always neat in clean.

For example, my dad almost died two summers ago. I value “putting family first” so I went live with my mom and him for about six weeks. It felt good help them adjust to our traumatic event. I was the "good Japanese son." But I also felt guilty for leaving my immediate family during that time. Because I define family more broadly than just my wife and two kids, I could not live the value of “putting family first” consistently. I couldn’t be with two families at the same time.

Add to that, I also value my work. Obvious I could not go to work consistently while I was taking care of my parents. Sometimes life requires me to choose one value over another.

Finally, there are times I choose not to live by my values because I want to be selfish or am too tired or lazy to make the extra effort.

Success for me, therefore, doesn’t mean happiness all the time. I like to be happy but I accept that life isn’t always happy. For me to be successful I must try to live my values as much as possible. And forgiving, accepting, and loving myself even when I fail.

My partner says, “God didn’t put us here to be happy. He put us here to love and be loved.” I think that’s pretty cool definition on how to be successful.

Nothing like a little UY Dojo Forum to get the reflection going in the morning.

Peace, maka

Living without regret.

From the lyrics of Propagandhi:

"Success, the ability to perform within a framework of obedience"

Just thought I'd offer a different spin on things.

For me, being successful is being happy.

Hmmm......Living in compleat content

For me:
Accomplishing something I feel happy about, which doesn't just have to be winning something or being given an award for something. It could be helping someone that needed it, and who really apreciated it. Or finishing a piece of art or a costume--or a major project at work. Completing a hike....
Then...after enjoying that plateau, looking forward to whatever the next success will be.

Well......lessee.....

True success is being able to complete an opus, and not only be content with it's completion, but that others would find interest in said opus.

success...what's that?

Living without regret is a good definition. Fulfillment of what you are doing. It's not an automatic thing, but something you have to deliberately do every day. Something hopefully you love. Hopefully that is true in all things you do.

JP