Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Peter Kraft on July 9, 2012 at 4:42pm

Success is enjoying a modicum of good health. Everything else is just the icing.

Permalink Reply by Jon Stuen-Parker on July 10, 2012 at 12:12am

Dear Jill,

Sorry. That reply was for a different blog. But it might apply here. My reply included: "America and allied forces fought with love against Nazi German. If love didn't win, most Jews woyuld be exterminated." I believe Americans giving their life to stop Nazi Germany was a form of spiritual success. What do you think?

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on July 10, 2012 at 11:55am

Because they were drafted. Most Americans wanted to sit it out until Japan lost its mind and attacked us. The reluctance was rational. Who wants to give 3 years to killing and maybe being maimed or killed? The Depression was over and jobs were abundant. 

Permalink Reply by Peter Kraft on July 10, 2012 at 12:10pm

"Fought with love against Nazi German..." Written by a true veteran....No one fights anyone to the death with "Love," I think, the draft was a big concern. Many chaps joined the Air Corps because during WWII you'd skip basic training, usually move up the ranks quicker, and avoid the front lines. You can hang on to that query letter...not exactly in touch with the thing that doesn't go away when you stop believing in it..Reality that is-to paraphrase Phillip K. Dick.

Permalink Reply by Jill Celeste on July 10, 2012 at 2:16pm

I suppose that if we look at WWII as the overcoming of an "evil" force then it was a success. The battle of good and evil goes on millions of times a day...within individuals, families, governments and between countries. If we take part of Sharon's definitions of success using the term as a succession....I guess what we hope is that the world starts succeeding in solving differences of opinion in a more highly conscious way than bloody wars that leave many corpses.

Permalink Reply by Peter Kraft on July 10, 2012 at 12:03pm

Jill, within the framework of your question, posited as such with religious overtones, undertones, and sidewaystones, here: The Creator of the Universe created us in their image, therefore we are fulfilling our destiny by way of acting out to the best of our abilities being creative. 

Permalink Reply by Jill Celeste on July 10, 2012 at 2:03pm

Hi Peter...There really is nothing "religious" about my question...it is a spiritual question meant to stimulate discussion no mater whether you subscribe to a religion or not. My understanding of your comment is that

Success = Fulfilling our destiny as creators. I really like that definition

Purely for the sake of discussion:

Where is our destiny "written" How do we know what it is? and how can we be sure we are fulfilling it to the best of our abilities? Is there any measure besides our personal point of view?

 Can one have a destiny to be a serial killer and fulfill it creatively and be considered a success?? 

 

Permalink Reply by Peter Kraft on July 10, 2012 at 4:38pm

"Can one have a destiny to be a serial killer and fulfill it creatively and e considered a success?" That's a familiar premise, but it works in the thriller/horror genre.

For the sake of discussion I don't know if our destiny is predetermined, and tend to think that we make our own destinies. I've got a very strong sense of free will, yet at the same time pay attention to signs along the road-The best measure of success, at least for me, it to help others help themselves. 

Permalink Reply by Jon Stuen-Parker on July 12, 2012 at 12:36am

Dear Peter,

     The key is love. I doubt a serial killer has much true love. I believe there is a "higher power." I believe it is love.

     Most of my life was spent helping others. The photo beside my name shows a golden light. I believe that golden light is love - not only my own love, but also love from others.

     The below writing was taken from my journal. The writing mentions a "golden light." I believe that boxing success was because of love. Surely, American and allied forces were successful in World War II because of love. If they didn't win, most Jews would be exterminated.

"Recently sparred New England middleweight champion, Sean Creagan. Woke worrying about family. Landlord sold house. Thought, 'Lived here 30 years and now forced out.' Drove up 'I' Street glaring at house reservations. Boxing thoughts brought calm. That afternoon trainer, Tommy Connors, ridiculed me during gym ride. Closing eyes, I prayed, 'Please help.' Pictured Sabra Jones radiating golden light. Immediately felt confident.

Sparring partner complained of sore shoulder. Tommy Connors advised, 'Hit the bags.' Replied, 'I didn’t come to work out. I came to fight.' Approached Sean Creagan, asking, 'Can we spar a couple rounds?' Feared sucker punch touching gloves and threw left/right/left combination. Covered up expecting counter-attack. Creagan continued shaking off punches. Thought, 'Why get hit? I’ll keep hitting him.' Unleashed onslaught of hooks. Two minutes later stopped and received left to head. Partially blocked that punch, then blocked body punch. Previous week received painful rib injury.

Creagan’s body punch headed for rib injury. Fearing sharp pain, I spun to right. Creagan wore black trunks, black shirt, black gloves and black headgear. He crouched behind gloves. Saw all black. Speck of white appeared and hooked over his gloves.

Again tattooed Creagan’s face. He grabbed me. Separating declined head punch. Opponent cringed. 10 second buzzer, then round ended. Professional 10 years (15-3 record), Creagan lost last fight to former Olympian. Tommy Connors (quickest Boston Garden KO) mimicked my hooks. Spinning to right, Tommy spouted, 'You embarrassed a veteran. He quit after one round. It was a 30 to one ratio. You owned him.' Repeatedly heard, 'You owned him.'

Felt special. Tommy displayed my spinning to right and hooking over Creagan’s gloves. Heard, 'It was a direct hit. Never saw a punch like that.' Told him punch came natural. Like Viking going over shield. When Viking smashed though doorway, Englishman grabbed sword and shield. Naked Viking (except horned metal helmet) carried ax and hammer. Instinctively, Viking swung hammer over top of Englishman’s shield. Tommy exclaimed, 'Never took someone to a gym and seen something like that!'”

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on July 12, 2012 at 12:23pm

Often, it's what we deliberately avoid doing. Negative intrusions into other lives is an attack against the Creative Intent, and the consequences can't be inert. 

Permalink Reply by Sharon Lindenburger on July 18, 2012 at 1:44pm

I was talking about ideas of "success" with a historian a few days ago. He made the comment that in centuries past, the idea of success was often tied up with the idea of honor, not in the sense of getting honors or being honored for something, but rather the sense of being a person of honor and the moral sense of being committed to uphold honor. Obviously, history also shows us that the sense of "honor" can become twisted by power motifs, but it's also true that today much of the positive sense of "honor" has been lost, and that's why "success" can seem very shallow these days.

Permalink Reply by jeff herman on July 19, 2012 at 12:13pm

Throughout history Honor has been a diabolical badge. I don't see that it's ever been useful. The Crusaders raped the Near East for Honor. The Japanese raped the Far East for Honor. The Serbians  . . .. The list is endless. Honor means eating someone else's lunch. It's a self righteous and egotistical concept that condones exploiting others in order to fatten oneself. Power is honor and the weak deserve to die.

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