Success

I saw this poem at school and it really spoke to me.

What is Success?

To laugh often and much;

To win the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;

To leave the world a bit better, whether by
a healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;

To know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived;

This is to have succeeded.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Over Christmas, I asked a friend if he died today, would he have been happy with his life? He said no. I thought about it, and I feel I would. Not that I want to die any time soon. But I feel like I've lived a good life that has been fulfilling. I hope to live my life like this poem, and I think I've done a pretty good job so far.