"You are neither a success or a failure until the end of your life." - Mr. Atwater
"Nobody knows what the future will bring." - Mr. Atwater
If you are presently in a difficult position and you are not proud of the behavior and circumstances that brought you to this point -- take heart. You can still change your behavior in the present and in the future. You may find a way to compensate all the harm you have done and then create a legacy that you would be proud of.
If you are presently in a comfortable and happy position -- be careful. That may all be taken from you at any moment; due to your own short comings; or circumstances totally beyond your control. Either way, it is not certain that your good fortune will last. Be cautious in your arrogance and careful in your disdain. You may have been the recipient of temporary good fortune that you do not deserve. In the end, it may all be taken away from you; and all of history will laugh at your foolishness.
Therefore, don't worry about success or failure, since their appearance is in other's minds and ultimately beyond your control. Concern yourself with ethics, philosophy, wisdom, and healthy, honest living. If you are making the wisest, most compassionate and best choices given the data you have -- then even if you fail miserably, you will be confident that you have met the challenge as best as possible (with no second guessing). You have nothing to worry about. You will have conducted yourself with honor.
Choose your own behavior with hope for a desired outcome and then, "just relax and enjoy the ride."
Success is relative, but ethical behavior is absolute.
copyright(c) 2015
William Schaeffer
A dissenting view: in the "natural world," success is everything and ethics are nothing. In mating, sex, reproduction, combat, warfare, hunting, and social status the final result is all that matters. You either succeed or fail.
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