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Success, like many things in life, is a choice. With that said, if you made the choices and you successfully completed them then I would have to say that you are successful. Unfortunately, in society, being successful generally translate to an abundance of material items. I would have to disagree.

Success to some may come in the form of simply being able to wake up one day and greet that special someone or go wake your kids up and say 'I love you'. To some others, success might be that they finally finished their last class of their graduate degree and they get to look forward to doing something other than having to go to another class. And still to others, success could be the big house in the fine upstanding neighborhood, the two cars in the driveway or garage and the wife/husband and the 2.5 kids.

Whatever you success story is, I feel that you should own it completely. You shouldn't let society, your friends, your co-workers or even your family tell you that you aren't a success. I think in today's society we have all fallen prey to the 'keeping up with the Jones' syndrome and it is really, really sad. It is this reason that so many people, not all but many, are losing houses to foreclosure. They wanted so bad to have that beautiful house, but gave very little thought to the reality that it could all come crashing down around their ears.

Don't get me wrong, to dream big is wonderful, but I have always been of the opinion that you should NEVER bite off more than you can chew. Just because a bank, a car dealer or even a family member tells you that you can handle everything on your plate, doesn't necessarily mean that you can. You have to know your limitations, whatever those limitations are. You don't have to be ashamed that you can't afford that $300,000 house that you want to buy for your family. If it means that in the end you are able to keep "A" roof over their head, food on their table and clothes on their back, and for that matter keep the family together; then that should make you happy and proud that you are even able to accomplish this. Especially given the economic times we are finding ourselves in right now.

I'll be the first one to admit that I would love nothing better than to able to flaunt nice things or to brag about certain accomplishments, but the reality is that there are certain limitations on anything that we would like to do. For me, success has come in the form of my only child finally graduating from his master's program with honors, having his own house and starting his own family. What more could anyone ask for? Anything else is just frosting on the cake.

Learn more about this author, Crystal Dawn Marie.
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