The Face of Success

written by

Jeannette Zink

(originally written August 6, 2015)

Updated January 4,2017

My kindred spirits … I originally wrote the following essay in August, 2015. I thought it might be interesting to revisit my thoughts as the new year 2017 gently dances in to our life. The Face of Success continues to evolve for me as I learn from the gifts that are intended for my lifetime story. The following is what I have been blessed to learn thus far…

I have decided to give success a face of expression.  I have also decided that the question to be addressed is not -- Where do I expect to be in 5 years? It does not matter where I am on the landscape of this earthly plane.  What does matter is the defining of success for wherever I may find myself -- how does it look, what are its feelings, does it have meaning bigger than the parts, will it bring good to the universe … Yes, the more relevant question to be explored is -- What will success look like for me in 5 years?

The reflection I hope to see in the mirror of my tomorrow’s future will have the features of a well-defined foundation for living a life of success.  This evolving life that is all mine will have the necessary tools and descriptive vocabulary to measure the net worth of my contributions and the expected benefits to the intended recipients… this will be my worldly view of success.  So, where I choose to be, who I choose to befriend, and how I get from A to Z on my lifetime journey will be evaluated against the weight of relevance to these thoughtfully examined success values.

How to go about this rather lofty task of finding meaning for an abstract concept of success is the first challenge… lists are good, but what kind of lists.  Perhaps I should first define what success does not look like, maybe then I will find my way to what it does look like … let’s try that approach, and see where it takes us.

Success does not look like…

Big time job title

Big time box top in an organizational structure

Knowing the right people in “high places”

Awards, big bonuses, top of the pay scale and career ladder accomplishments

Winning in the game of office politics

High performance ratings

Successes far outweigh failures

Home, cars, clothes, and impressive residential address

Educational degree(s) and powerhouse resume

Worshipping other than the messages resting in your soul

Saying YES for the many times you really intended NO

Following a path that is not your intended purpose

Giving up on your dreams and the spirit of hope

Casting doubt on love when given unconditionally

Reluctant to just BELIEVE

So, what does success look like, by my definition…

Do I love more, hurt less

Do I accept the me that is only me

Do I try new things without the fear of failure

Do I find the joy in just doing because it brings me satisfaction

Do I laugh more; cry less

Do I have the love and respect of a family who accepts me with all my flaws

Do I show and say love to those I cherish

Do I give without the expectation of receiving anything in return

Do I accept being loved without conditions

Do I accept not being the best at whatever the perceived competition

Do I accept not being the center of attention

Do I accept my fragile and aging mind and body

Do I accept a helping hand graciously when needed

Do I graciously give a helping hand when needed

Do I accept that not everyone will love and accept who I am

Do I acknowledge and accept my mistakes

Do I believe and accept that God loves the imperfect me

Do I love me

Do I give back more than I take

Do I trust more than distrust

Do I value exploring the questions more than just finding an answer

Do I laugh and giggle more than frown

Do I accept the pure beauty of holding hands with my 2-year-old brilliant great-niece

Do I say YES more than NO to the above…

If YES, then maybe this is the Face of my SUCCESS and the life I am intended on my lifetime journey!

My kindred spirits, may your exploration in defining your SUCCESS be the gift that will sustain you more than golden coins and lead you on a path to your enduring truth. 

You may enjoy following my blogs:

https://jeannettesartandstories.blogspot.com/

https://doodlingwithwordsbyjeannette.blogspot.com/

The Mountain Lion, The Woodpecker, The Family of Foxes

and The White Hawk … and, of course …The Gorilla

written by

Jeannette Zink

I did not expect my year of 2016 to end on such a pleasant note, nor begin 2017 of equal cheer, given the wild adventures that took hold and refused to loosen their lumberjack’s grip on this most exhilarating past year. In fact, as I think back on the eclectic 365-day calendar and don my Ray-Ban shades to shield the imaginative glare from the rambunctious year, my thoughts turn to the genre of mythology and to legends woven into the mystical stories told in books of folklore. These my literary compass for enlightenment and the milieu for rationalizing societal accommodations for a game known as survival of the fittest. The gods of myth and folklore seem to know just the right bell to jingle to set in motion a swirl of hidden messages, clues as it were, to guide wandering souls to their intended trek. These clues may not always be apparent and the mode of their delivery may be as mysterious and slow-moving as the travels on the famed Orient Express; but keeping our wits, the light ultimately shines on the answers we seek. It is only of late that I have begun to translate reason out of clues sent to me in the form of wildlife … maybe an animal will cross my path in a conversation, perhaps a sighting, even while exploring real estate options, or claim stake to winter residence in my backyard shed. Each sent to deliver a message. Bravely, I open the mailbox of discovery with an open mind and loving heart, seeking the knowledge awaiting within.

For example, I recently learned of mountain lions and bobcats roaming amongst the comforts of the human landscape. Scary as that seems on the surface, I decided to explore the mythological call of the wild, and discovered that mountain lions carry themselves with the characteristics of grace and power, and hold a positon worthy of sacred by the Native American Cherokee. This beauty of lions is adaptable and a generalist species; yet, secretive and largely solitary by nature -- preferring to avoid humans. They dine on big creatures -- deer and livestock – or, the smaller -- insects and rodents. Their living conditions may be in the underbrush and rocky terrain, or in the wide-open environment. In a word, flexibility is the tune that this wildcat dances to as it zigzags through life’s daily escapade.

While I may fear this mighty lion of grace and beauty if ever we were to cross a common path on our individual hot pursuit of one life to live so make the best of it trail, I would bow in awe to the mythological position garnered by the specie. The drum of fear calmed by the attributes we all aspire to exhibit during our weakest of moments … grace and power.  It may be said the mountain lion or bobcat did indeed roam midst the humankind as we found the strength to stand tall with grace and empowerment during our times of fear and uncertainty this past year. I take this message delivered by such a beautiful creature, and will begin to build a strong foundation to support the graceful and flexible walls of my evolving goals and dreams. Thank you, mountain lion and bobcat, for crossing my mental yard of awareness…now, go and play nicely in your own backyard.

Next up, the woodpecker. Spring would not be complete if it were not for this noisy little bird seeking with determination the next goal to be met, the ambition to drill to the other side, and utilizing every ounce of inexhaustible energy to create a beautiful work of art out of an old piece of dead wood.

The word “peck” does not quite fit the descriptive lexicon for the eardrum shattering jackhammer drill imitation I hear outside my window on a lovely spring morning. The neighborhood woodpecker is on the scene, and fast at work building an elegant home worthy of the cover issue to Architectural Digest; or, perhaps in pursuit of a delicious appetizer for the dinner hour. Once the perfect circle has been “pecked” through to each side of the chosen hollow dead piece of wood, a sense of calm is restored to our acoustic environment. We are now free to return to our lower audible frequency levels of daily lives with a sense relief that the woodpecker has completed their intended task with success.

I was ready to move on – let woodpeckers do their thing. I simply resign to wear ear plugs until such time that the woodpecker has accomplished their deed. But, then I started to consider exactly what the “deed” was all about for this little pin-pointed bill of a bird. They are risking life and limbs to drill a hole in wood to find food and make a home for their family. Think about the headache they must have at the end of a day of wood drilling! Their little toes must need a serious massage after hanging on for dear life to the tree bark as they peck away at a determined hole. Pain and exhaustion be damn, persistence is the woodpecker’s middle name, and they will not stop until the job is done! Never give up until you have accomplished your mission is the woodpecker’s mantra. And, that my kindred spirits, is my adopted mantra … even when it feels like I am batting my head (bill) against brick walls … remember the woodpecker, never give up and drill on!!!

My backyard is a wellspring for wildlife preservation during the bitter winter months. I should really be more specific – the shed in my backyard – is the preserving source for a family of foxes. The fox family has enjoyed the protective nature of the shed for the past few years. It seems that the time for birthing and the winter season coincide with this family, and they now know where I keep the secret key to my shed. I look forward to the sighting of this family each winter. Anticipate with sheer delight, the frolicking display of affection of their young, as each gingerly come out from under the shed to play in the fading snow and dance with the early spring appearance of daffodils. The cycle of life knows its way to my backyard, and I am grateful for its perennial warming during the cold winter months. Don’t forget to put the key back in its secret place, little foxes … it will be waiting for your winter sojourn.

White Hawk Up … I am in search of a new place to call home for those tranquil days (years) of retirement. The residence that will support my joie de vivre (joy of living) and yet not a burden for those times when I travel the world of vagabond. This place to house my jovial tomorrows is gradually beginning to find logistical definition, and the square footage necessary to accommodate frequent visits with my loving family plus the architect to buoy the artist and writer in my soul. It is as if my first DRAFT is taking shape!

And, then … without notice nor the slightest bit of commotion, a white hawk recently came floating on mythological wings to focus my attention of a real estate development that spoke in a rhythm familiar to longings meticulously listed on my musing wish list. In mythology, the white hawk -- spirit animal with the power of observation – directs us to study a situation before taking any action; and, then take discerned action, when the time is right.

My white hawk messenger arrived, message received by the student, and the gods of observation now cast their focus in a pool of potential answers for my tomorrow’s joie de vivre. Thank you, white hawk, for the gentle nudge on to a steady path of possibilities, each revealing answers deserving of deliberate action ... when the time is right.

Before I say good-bye to this glorious first day of the 2017 New Year, I want to thank each human and animal that took the time to drift my way in 2016, and for the messages each graciously delivered to my mental mailbox. I cherish your caring hearts and pay homage to the messages you have shared with me.

While I am sure at times during this New Year, we will find ourselves faced with those big hairy gorilla road bumps, I am confident that we will pick ourselves up and together we will move forward … no matter the size of the gorilla that dare to cross our path!

My kindred spirits … remember the past with the amber glow of experience and look forward to the future with the gorilla strength of love and peace.

Joie de vivre in 2017 and for a lifetime!!!

You may enjoy following my blogs:

https://jeannettesartandstories.blogspot.com/

https://doodlingwithwordsbyjeannette.blogspot.com/