M
marrissey
Guest
> What do you propose? Success is unrewarding? My God! I've wasted
> my life! (Don't worry, it's not the first time I have said
> that.) Yes, you are right, I should strive to be a bag lady,
> hang on, if I achieve that, haven't I achieved success in what
> society deems failure? Oh, this is quickly becoming too
> deconstructualist.
Erm (again). I wrote "perhaps". I don't mind anyone being successful or not. Is it rewarding? Well, what is successful?
I'll take some time to spell it out. Please scroll.
Imagine this. You write lyrics for a song. The song becomes a hit. Success! There's the reputation you longed for. Interviews, talks, loads of stuff to do, to see, to read, loads of people to meet, people with their opinions about how, what, when and why. OK, that's the business.
You want to do sth else, try a different approach. Oh no. It's no longer the same as the success story. People turn their backs. You've wasted the talent. No success. Not even square one now, but further aback. Hostility even.
Then what?
I really like to determine for myself whether I'm successful in attaining the goals I've set for me. Whether or not these goals by themselves (regardless of the way they were reached) can be considered a success or not by other people is second, or even third order. To me. I know, it's not a competitive attitude. So be it.
Suppose you write a diary. And find it rather accurately reflects your year's personal developments, tourments, doubts, questions, tentative answers ... expressed in words that come rather close to the emotional background. The line separating both is thin. That was your target - trying to reduce the distance between life and expression of that life. You may consider that a successful achievement. And it may never be known, published or read.
> Huh? I don't get it. You want to pinned down? Don't we all?
Pinned down? Oh frankly, never ever. The past may be acknowledged. But I can't see it as a guideline. It's that what lies ahead, that makes the horizon. (A personal note, though)
> Okay, the nit-picker in you got the better of me...how about
> nothing good (I'm assuming to one learning Morrissey's home
> address is good) comes easily...along with words, according to
> Tracy Chapman.
Well, can I remain provocative? Write a page on a piece of paper. It goes very well - it's how you wanted to put it, and what you wanted to put. Good. It came easily. And it's good.
Then ... I start thinking. Huh, if that came so easily, couldn't it become any better? Couldn't I do even better? And there we go again ...
I feel it's not about things good or bad coming easily or not. It's just ... when they are there - what do you want to do with them? If you're like me and think that everything that is worth of your attention should be reworked, made better and what not, .. well then we're at it, aren't we? "My only mistake is I'm hoping ...". Something along those lines.
I fail to see what Tracy Chapman got to do with it. Never mind.
> I'm too fond of my trousers.
and what if he's fond of yours as well? I for one would be "dilemma'd".
> however, don't despair, my dear, because, as you know, there's
> is always a light that never goes out....
Yep. I hope nothing is ever really finished. There's always room for improving.
> my life! (Don't worry, it's not the first time I have said
> that.) Yes, you are right, I should strive to be a bag lady,
> hang on, if I achieve that, haven't I achieved success in what
> society deems failure? Oh, this is quickly becoming too
> deconstructualist.
Erm (again). I wrote "perhaps". I don't mind anyone being successful or not. Is it rewarding? Well, what is successful?
I'll take some time to spell it out. Please scroll.
Imagine this. You write lyrics for a song. The song becomes a hit. Success! There's the reputation you longed for. Interviews, talks, loads of stuff to do, to see, to read, loads of people to meet, people with their opinions about how, what, when and why. OK, that's the business.
You want to do sth else, try a different approach. Oh no. It's no longer the same as the success story. People turn their backs. You've wasted the talent. No success. Not even square one now, but further aback. Hostility even.
Then what?
I really like to determine for myself whether I'm successful in attaining the goals I've set for me. Whether or not these goals by themselves (regardless of the way they were reached) can be considered a success or not by other people is second, or even third order. To me. I know, it's not a competitive attitude. So be it.
Suppose you write a diary. And find it rather accurately reflects your year's personal developments, tourments, doubts, questions, tentative answers ... expressed in words that come rather close to the emotional background. The line separating both is thin. That was your target - trying to reduce the distance between life and expression of that life. You may consider that a successful achievement. And it may never be known, published or read.
> Huh? I don't get it. You want to pinned down? Don't we all?
Pinned down? Oh frankly, never ever. The past may be acknowledged. But I can't see it as a guideline. It's that what lies ahead, that makes the horizon. (A personal note, though)
> Okay, the nit-picker in you got the better of me...how about
> nothing good (I'm assuming to one learning Morrissey's home
> address is good) comes easily...along with words, according to
> Tracy Chapman.
Well, can I remain provocative? Write a page on a piece of paper. It goes very well - it's how you wanted to put it, and what you wanted to put. Good. It came easily. And it's good.
Then ... I start thinking. Huh, if that came so easily, couldn't it become any better? Couldn't I do even better? And there we go again ...
I feel it's not about things good or bad coming easily or not. It's just ... when they are there - what do you want to do with them? If you're like me and think that everything that is worth of your attention should be reworked, made better and what not, .. well then we're at it, aren't we? "My only mistake is I'm hoping ...". Something along those lines.
I fail to see what Tracy Chapman got to do with it. Never mind.
> I'm too fond of my trousers.
and what if he's fond of yours as well? I for one would be "dilemma'd".
> however, don't despair, my dear, because, as you know, there's
> is always a light that never goes out....
Yep. I hope nothing is ever really finished. There's always room for improving.