What do you guys thinks counts as being successful in life? I know sz can change this concept quite abit… You can also say what you thought before sz and after…
For me being successful in life before sz was all about making movies and music and being successful in that aspect. Winning awards and having a reputation as a film maker… And also I guess being in a good healthy relationship and having fun with friends and family…
Now after sz this has changed… I believe more in the spiritual side of life, and have much more focus on family. I still want to be successful in the ordinary way but now I want to do it the right way, with a good heart as well as a good mind.
Being a multimillionaire would be nice. Then I wouldn’t have to rely on others and get crap for being disabled and lazy. Then I would have confidence to get a beautiful girlfriend.
I guess I’ve set the bar pretty low for myself. If I bathe, do the dishes and make dinner I feel I’ve accomplished the minimum for a successful day. But as far as the big picture goes I think being a kind person goes a long way in this world.
I am single, a career doesn’t interest me, no money no friends no nothing.
What interest me is Jewish religion.
And that is the only thing that will keep interesting me, a single Haredi man,
also if I get cured.
Only then I can participate in prayer services and possibly find myself a yeshiva, but only if it suits me,
that is only if the books are in Russian and the language of instruction is Russian.
And I will keep exercising.
And I will fight tooth and nail for this lifestyle.
Before sza, being successful in life was making a lot of money as an R.N., making a lot of lateral moves within my field and learning ever more as I went. It also meant saving a lot of my money and investing it for a profit.
Now, after sza, being successful means practicing my digital piano everyday and getting more and more skilled at it. Also getting to the point finally where I can perform for friends and family. It also means saving and investing my money for profit.
To me, being successful in life has to do with having the mental fortitude to do intellectually challenging things that make you uncomfortable, all the time, while getting mentally stronger progressively.
Not being lazy and wealthy, that’s a waste of potential.
Well I was only 14 when I had my original diagnosis of Sz, now Sza. I suppose in my youth I hoped I would make decent money and get married and have kids. I actually don’t think I ever really wanted kids, it was a social/church environment thing that everybody is supposed to have them. When I was really young I had dreams of being an athlete or personal trainer.
Right now I think I’d sort of be happy working 10-15 hours a week and going on some dates here and there while having my own apartment. I think the first and last things are much more likely to actually happen, although I have persistent physical health issues that could make working very difficult. I should feel positive I guess. After 20 years of being often admitted to behavioral wars (which didn’t help) and meds not helping at all, now I don’t have hallucinations much of the time.
Still it’s hard for me to not compare myself to the people around me.
Before I realized that sz had successfully stolen my ability to pursue my dreams, I wanted to be an exhibiting/selling artist as well as a book illustrator. What I have discovered since letting that go is that I have touched people’s lives with some of my paintings and the work I do with special needs kids is important.
So, for me, being successful is having purpose and making a difference, even in the smallest ways.
You’re so insightful, @Leaf. I appreciate your breaking it down to basics.
I can totally relate to finding satisfaction in getting the simplest things done! (Because they’re not simple) Sometimes just getting up and dressed feels like a “win”! I get up and get dressed every day, no matter how I feel.
