How do you measure success?

Twice recently I've been offered short stints of lucrative full time work. I turned them both down in favour of the less stressful classes I enjoy three days a week. Telling my husband of my decision provoked a very Jim response. "Well done, that's great. You must continue to resist the temptation to work more." He is not one to subscribe to the view that he who dies with the most toys wins. More likely, if prompted for a motto, it would be along the lines of 'no one ever lay on his death bed and wished he'd spent more time at work.'

So, how do YOU measure success? When you look back at the end of you life how will you know you succeeded? A big house? Money in the bank? A promoted post? A happy family? Oodles of grandkids? A good-looking corpse? It occurred to me that if you don't decide when you are young-ish what you'll count as a successful life you can easily get pulled in the wrong direction. Jim chose his path early and consequently is one of the most successful men I know. My own goals are more modest. See below for my favourite quote on the subject.


How can they say my life is not a success? Have I not for more than sixty years got enough to eat and escaped being eaten? -Logan Pearsall Smith, essayist (1865-1946)