My life is not the mainstream picture of success. At the moment, I am a single mother on welfare (which I am totally trying to get off of). I have a horse and two dogs (who were all acquired before I went on welfare). I am a student. I have a full plate. I often feel like I am failing, because I am 23, have a child, and no money. But I am successful.
You see, mainstream society considers "successful" to be someone who has a house, a dog, a two car garage, can go on vacations a couple of times a year, and whose car has all the newest features. I do, too- don't get me wrong. And sometimes, I long to be so mainstream "successful."
I am successful, in matters of the heart, you see, and spiritually. I constantly seek a relationship with God, not perfectly by any means, but the effort says a lot. I am a successful mother, because I care about Kiley's welfare, and I do what I can to make sure she turns out okay. Sometimes, I am too tired to do what I think I should do for her, but amazingly, she keeps growing and developing. Isn't that the basic measure of success by how we measure ourselves- whether our children are being raised to leave the world better than they found it? Or, if we do not have children, if we personally are trying to do the same.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I would love to live a life based on self- sustainability, to give back to the earth, rather than engaging in the consumerism that everyone seems to hate so much, but no one seems willing to change. That is not a knock on the way others choose to live, at least not an intentional one, it is only a explanation for why I would like to live that way. I cannot right now, however, as the apartment where I am living would not allow for it. What I mean by that is solar or wind energy, growing my own fruits and vegetables, raising my own meat, milk, and cheese. Anything I cannot grow, I would like to buy at Farmer's Markets. I don't know that I could make my own clothes, but I would probably shop for clothing locally. This moving to self- sustainability would certainly be a long process, and one I would have to research thoroughly.
