Beach birds, working hard from dawn to dusk to keep themselves alive.
You are probably looking at the picture above and saying to yourself, "What does this have to do with success as a writer or as any kind of business person or entrepreneur?" Well, just give me a moment and I hope you'll make the connection.
Those little birds flitting about at the water's edge in the early morning are working. They are working to find food, food to give them the calories they need to run about and fly as they do at almost all times other than sleep. Even then, it's hard for them to do so soundly due to the threat of predators, usually bigger birds who find them an easy mark. So, their success is determined by how long they live and they work hard to live just as long as they can.
Translate that same situation over to humankind and we find a much different scenario. Humans were put on earth with a brain and individual talents to use to support themselves and their loved ones. But somehow in our attempts to be compassionate, we made it far to easy for some of us who choose not to work. In such cases, we create food stamps, free housing and welfare among other "goodies" which, over a generational span, creates a large group who decide to judge their success by receiving the dole from others and perpetuating it in later generations.
I see success as understanding that it is our individual responsibility to take care of ourselves and our loved ones in a way that is both pleasing to us and to God. Sure, there are times when help is needed for people in pain and suffering. Major health issues beyond reasonable means, loss of a primary breadwinner, major disaster, these types of issues are certainly worthy of compassion and help. But they aren't meant to be for a lifetime, they are meant to serve as a "hand up" not a "hand out."
Even in our current situation, we have many who are truly successful, but our society will never be fully successful if the weight of so many who choose not to produce is carried by those who do produce. It's contrary to the laws of nature as we see by the actions of those little birds in the picture, who know nothing except how to keep themselves alive. Nature offers many pictures of what honest and independent life requires.
I hope this gives all of us something to think about as we continue down our own road to success in the "Game of Life." Each of us have our own goals and dreams, but it's important to remember that the hard lifting is our responsibility, not a collective effort.
Have a blessed day.
Those little birds flitting about at the water's edge in the early morning are working. They are working to find food, food to give them the calories they need to run about and fly as they do at almost all times other than sleep. Even then, it's hard for them to do so soundly due to the threat of predators, usually bigger birds who find them an easy mark. So, their success is determined by how long they live and they work hard to live just as long as they can.
Translate that same situation over to humankind and we find a much different scenario. Humans were put on earth with a brain and individual talents to use to support themselves and their loved ones. But somehow in our attempts to be compassionate, we made it far to easy for some of us who choose not to work. In such cases, we create food stamps, free housing and welfare among other "goodies" which, over a generational span, creates a large group who decide to judge their success by receiving the dole from others and perpetuating it in later generations.
I see success as understanding that it is our individual responsibility to take care of ourselves and our loved ones in a way that is both pleasing to us and to God. Sure, there are times when help is needed for people in pain and suffering. Major health issues beyond reasonable means, loss of a primary breadwinner, major disaster, these types of issues are certainly worthy of compassion and help. But they aren't meant to be for a lifetime, they are meant to serve as a "hand up" not a "hand out."
Even in our current situation, we have many who are truly successful, but our society will never be fully successful if the weight of so many who choose not to produce is carried by those who do produce. It's contrary to the laws of nature as we see by the actions of those little birds in the picture, who know nothing except how to keep themselves alive. Nature offers many pictures of what honest and independent life requires.
I hope this gives all of us something to think about as we continue down our own road to success in the "Game of Life." Each of us have our own goals and dreams, but it's important to remember that the hard lifting is our responsibility, not a collective effort.
Have a blessed day.
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