What Is Success?

I turned 56 yesterday. They say you should never ask a lady her age or her weight. Well, I’m not telling you my weight but turning 56 is kind of a big one-more-step-toward-over-the-hill step. Don’t you think?

As I took that step I’ve been asking myself some questions. This comes with the realization that the older I get the more I resolve myself to the fact that there is so much I still do not know. So much more of life and wonder and love to figure out. I am in pursuit of that wonderful life and love and I hope and pray you are too.

We all seem to be striving for success. What is success anyway? I’ve decided to define success for me by my benchmarks and I’d love it if you did the same.

My Eight Point Success Meter:

1. To always put God first in everything. My continual goal is to deepen my relationship with my Heavenly Father. This includes time with Him daily.
2. Having a hot and spicy and loving marriage. If my marriage were to dip into the bland arena I would scratch and claw my way…okay, not literally, but I’d fight my way back to spicy and warmth. (I know I only have control over me—and this takes two—but it’s my ambition to uphold my side of “to honor and cherish.”)
3. Time with my family. If I didn’t have time to visit and spend quality time with my grandkids I would consider that a huge flop. Not flopping is spending time with my kids, too, they’re okay, I mean they gave me my grandkids. At least two of them have kids and the third one I’m nice to just in case he has children one day. *sideways laughing face emoji
4. The ability to take a nap in the middle of the day. Don’t judge me. This is in the Bible. Genesis 2:2 – “On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work.”
5. Daily coffee. This is proof that God loves me.
6. The ability to buy all the food I want. I may not be able to eat everything my heart desires, that is, unless I want to keep buying larger clothes, but at least I can buy what I want.
7. Driving in a truck. Recently my husband and I needed to rent a vehicle and we decided on a truck. It’s on my success list now. When I’m next to him while he’s driving a truck I feel like a queen. Hey, I told you this is my list so I get to put what I want on it. And just to be clear, Mike has decided to move toward turning his “luxury car” for a truck. *happy face emoji
8. Flying in first class. I know this one seems indulgent and frivolous, and I don’t do it all the time, but when I do… as you can see it’s on my list. Yesterday I forfeited all birthday gifts in leu of flying first class—on the way to see my grandson—and I’d do it again and again.

Now, make your own list.

Don’t allow the world to dictate your success meter.

YOU get to do that.

Fondly,

Lu

Order a copy today of “The Intimacy You Crave: Straight Talk about Sex and Pancakes” by Lucille Williams and learn more about spicing up your marriage. Engaged? Check out her other book, “From Me to We”  and start your marriage off right. Subscribe to LuSays for weekly encouragement.