Viewing Thread:
"Success and Fairytales"

I didn't always, but I find it odd how television, magazines and the like always seem to portray who we're supposed to idolise. Footballers, who are paid far too much, actors, the same. Attractive, young people who, for some reason or other, are apparently stuck high in the food chain.

And it leads me to wonder what success actually is. All the time, through childhood at least, thinking that to be successful, you had to be rich and famous, having your face on the front of magazines, being interviewed on tv, etc.

I can't believe how long it's taken for me to realise how utterly rubbish that really is... but it's certainly made me question where I really want to be heading.

All in all, when I really sit down and think about it, success is a different goal for every person. Maybe it really is to be rich and famous for some, maybe it's to be on the cover of magazines. I hold nothing to those that want it, it's just not a big deal to me.

So what is success, at least, to me? It's a hard question. And not just buttering bread correctly, to catching a ball.

But it's always good to feel you've accomplished something, that you were successful in your mission. To achieve.

So yeah, this topic is about what success means for you... what would make you the absolute happiest? Sex/marriage to a beautiful woman/man? Whatever.

The second half of this topic is about my personal choice at what I think success is.. at least, what I find the greatest achievement.

I once read that there's no such thing as a bad idea, simply bad execution. That every single idea can be carried out to make something fantastic. In some ways, I think I really believe in that.

But I guess success to me, is telling a good story perfectly. I don't really think anything really lifts me higher beyond that. Stories are my life, my absolute blood, they're seriously what keeps me going.

Every day without fail, I'll find myself brewing over some story in my head, usually certain big stories that I'm always trying to lose myself in. Being able to tell a tale exactly how I want to tell it, to me, is bliss. It may sound silly, and it probably does, but there's nothing beyond that for me. It's my dream, passionately, absolute and utmost.

And whatever it takes to tell the story the best way I can, I really try and push myself to do. Wherever it's learning instruments, trying to animate, film, photograph, whatever. To bring the story in my mind, and bring it out to a solid form where I can play it over and over again.

With all that happens in the world, war, death, I feel perhaps a little selfish for this. But it makes me happy, happy beyond anything to be able to tell a story well. It makes me idolise people like Tim Burton, Roald Dahl, etc.. people who take good ideas and tell them as well as they can, straight from the heart.

But yeah, that's my belief. If I can tell a story, that affects you, carries you, makes you smile, laugh, cry, whatever, then it's a success. It's the most complicated and difficult thing for me, but definitely the most rewarding thing on the planet. To think I could ever spend time heading away from this, is just completely ridiculous. I'm so lucky to find what I need to do, now I just have to force myself to work in the only way I know how.

So yeah, so how about you?

So yeah, this topic is about what success means for you... what would make you the absolute happiest? Sex/marriage to a beautiful woman/man? Whatever.

This is a poor example. What 'would' make you the happiest. If, to use your example, you actually achieved this as a success I believe you would find it is a shallow and unreal success. Um, I mean, well you know what I mean. To achieve it is no guarantee of happiness.

So I thought about this and I have come to the conclusion that I am successful. I have a best friend who I have a near symbiotic relationship and also a group of close personal friends who are my lifeline to sanity. They help to release all of lives hells and pressures.

I have a good job and yes I am successful at it. It will not change anyones life or enable me to make a great discovery but it is something that I have succeeded in.

I own my small house or will when I've repaid the morgage! Actually this is something I have yet to succeed at as there are no guarantees in life. To own it outright is a small dream. To not have to worry about a roof over my head.

I like writing short stories, simply for my pleasure, mostly posted on here for feedback and critism (I can NEVER spell that flaming word). If anyone who reads anything of mine on here compliments it than it is a real boost to the ego. It also generates a good feeling of 'yes, I have given someone some pleasure'. It is a small success even if only one person likes it but I have no ambitions to expand on it.

I have other things that I feel I have succeeded in and things that I have failed in and learnt from. Mostly I feel successful if during the day I have made someone smile.

Not very ambitious am I?

However, I do wish you success. I hope that all your dreams and ambitions are realised. Not just you personally but everyone who questions and challanges themselves everyday to succeed in just one thing, no matter how small.

I'd like to read the dictionary.

Or fall in love.

I'd settle for the dictionary though.

I'd like to be the answer to a question on a quiz. Seriously, but only if it was because I'd done something worthwhile.

Tricky question.
Not money. Not love. Not to be at peace. Not to be famous. So what's left...
I think success (for me) is to create things I truly like. So far I have found this very difficult. But I love words, so I guess I'll have to do it via those. If I could write something wonderfully labyrinthian and 'like' it, I think I'd label that a personal success. And if others liked it as much as I, then that would be a happy bonus.

Success for me is to complete every challenge I set myself, and live a full life.

I've totally wasted the beginning of my life, sitting in the house most nights, watching TV, etc, but I intend to make up for it in later life, to do the things you only once get the chance to do.

Skydive, bungie jump, attend the Superbowl - on the 50 yard line, near the front, break a world record (don't care what it's for, as long as I know I hold the world record for something, even if only for a moment.

I constantly set myself goals, materialistic goals, I'd love to settle down with a big house and family, but I'm only 16, chances are my goals will change as I grow older.

I didn't always, but I find it odd how television, magazines and the like always seem to portray who we're supposed to idolise. Footballers, who are paid far too much, actors, the same. Attractive, young people who, for some reason or other, are apparently stuck high in the food chain.

And it leads me to wonder what success actually is. All the time, through childhood at least, thinking that to be successful, you had to be rich and famous, having your face on the front of magazines, being interviewed on tv, etc.

I can't believe how long it's taken for me to realise how utterly rubbish that really is... but it's certainly made me question where I really want to be heading.

All in all, when I really sit down and think about it, success is a different goal for every person. Maybe it really is to be rich and famous for some, maybe it's to be on the cover of magazines. I hold nothing to those that want it, it's just not a big deal to me.

So what is success, at least, to me? It's a hard question. And not just buttering bread correctly, to catching a ball.

But it's always good to feel you've accomplished something, that you were successful in your mission. To achieve.

So yeah, this topic is about what success means for you... what would make you the absolute happiest? Sex/marriage to a beautiful woman/man? Whatever.

The second half of this topic is about my personal choice at what I think success is.. at least, what I find the greatest achievement.

I once read that there's no such thing as a bad idea, simply bad execution. That every single idea can be carried out to make something fantastic. In some ways, I think I really believe in that.

But I guess success to me, is telling a good story perfectly. I don't really think anything really lifts me higher beyond that. Stories are my life, my absolute blood, they're seriously what keeps me going.

Every day without fail, I'll find myself brewing over some story in my head, usually certain big stories that I'm always trying to lose myself in. Being able to tell a tale exactly how I want to tell it, to me, is bliss. It may sound silly, and it probably does, but there's nothing beyond that for me. It's my dream, passionately, absolute and utmost.

And whatever it takes to tell the story the best way I can, I really try and push myself to do. Wherever it's learning instruments, trying to animate, film, photograph, whatever. To bring the story in my mind, and bring it out to a solid form where I can play it over and over again.

With all that happens in the world, war, death, I feel perhaps a little selfish for this. But it makes me happy, happy beyond anything to be able to tell a story well. It makes me idolise people like Tim Burton, Roald Dahl, etc.. people who take good ideas and tell them as well as they can, straight from the heart.

But yeah, that's my belief. If I can tell a story, that affects you, carries you, makes you smile, laugh, cry, whatever, then it's a success. It's the most complicated and difficult thing for me, but definitely the most rewarding thing on the planet. To think I could ever spend time heading away from this, is just completely ridiculous. I'm so lucky to find what I need to do, now I just have to force myself to work in the only way I know how.

So yeah, so how about you?