A friend from the Class of 1997

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To me, being successful means...
...living a loving life and enjoying the journey. This is done by letting my goals and dreams inspire me, never being stagnant, being humble when I come across challenges, learning from these challenges, keeping my mind interested with knowledge and also having time to stop and enjoy it all!

My definition of success has changed over time. 
Experience, time, unforeseen and unpredictable events changes our perspectives and leads us onto new paths. Then, our definition of success changes and becomes less finite.

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Happy with the life I have and what I have to give.

/ any tennis court/

To me, being successful means...
Feeling fulfilled, making a difference in peoples lives and in the world we live in.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
I value the simple things, health, happiness, volunteering, family.

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Life is short -- enjoy and keep learning and experiencing new things.

/ Main Library/

To me, being successful means...
Doing what you want to do and having a good balance between work, family and life.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
It used to be focused only on work success, now it is more holistic.

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nothing lasts forever

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To me, being successful means...
actualizing your goals

My definition of success has changed over time. 
success for me today is defined in more personal ways, whereas when I was younger I looked to others for clues on what it means to be successful

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striving for balance

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To me, being successful means...
I think success is being generally happy with what you are doing. I don't mean overjoyed happy every minute of every day but I am achieving success when I wake up ready to start the day and go to bed feeling I accomplished something and had time for those I love. I also think success is making that happen while balancing my family/friends and being there for them and enjoying my time with them as much as I can.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
Growing up I thought of success as being the most educated I could be and then working the hardest to get the highest paying job or best job title no matter what sacrifices I had to make in my own life. Honestly, I have none of the above things now (except the education piece perhaps) and I feel better about my life then ever.

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done is better than perfect (or so I keep trying to tell myself)

/ Hobees/

To me, being successful means...
living comfortably, working at a job I don't hate, and spending as much time as possible with those dearest to me.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
I think free time and flexibility have become more important over time.

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Follow your bliss

/ The Baylands/

To me, being successful means...
doing something enjoyable that also makes a positive difference in the world.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
I used to tie success to some sort of rank: the university I went to, grades, job title, salary. Now those things seem less important than a life that brings meaningful purpose and joy.

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Success and Contentment

/ The Edge/

To me, being successful means...
Feeling contentment in ones life. Having balance with all aspects of life; work, friends, family, and play.

My definition of success has not changed over time. 
I didn't really think much about my specific definition of success until this survey. Contentment drives me but I don't know if it always did.

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Being successful comes from gratitude from the good things achieved in life

/ The dish/

To me, being successful means...
Being happy. To be happy I consider 3 factors - my healthy, my friends/family in my life and the work that I do. Therefore I ask myself – am I in good health? Do I have friends and family in my life that care for me and vice versa? Do I wake up every day content with what’s in my life or am I unhappy? Am I able to make an impact and help people on a weekly basis? If I can answer yes, then I can feel successful.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
Yes. I previously thought that to be successful you had to have a job, any job. Now I think it’s a bit more than just having a job. You have to have a balance of good things in your life and it’s certainly not all about having a job. It’s about having the opportunity to experience good things in your life and that can come from a result of relationships, traveling, reading, listening to music, living in a place like the Bay Area, etc.

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From doctor, to scientist, to teacher, to tech geek... wander!

/ Cafe Borrone/

To me, being successful means...
Primarily it means having good, healthy, happy, fulfilling relationships. Relationships do take time and resources, so i'd also like to have enough. Enough to me means, most/all of what I need, some of what I want and hopefully enough to share.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
I thought it would be defined by scholastic, professional, financial success. Phase two came after college when it evolved to be one that embodied personal satisfaction and fulfillment and religious discovery and pursuit. Phase three evolved into finding my satisfaction in relationships with others, and learning to love, care for and seek the good of someone other than myself, while also becoming content with knowing that I will not and cannot know all the things I want to know.

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Musical theater performer learns to appreciate little things

/ Lucie Stern Center - Palo Alto Children's Theatre/

To me, being successful means...
Having fun, being content., recognizing what is truly important: the relationships we build and maintain. Free of overriding worries, i.e., not enough food/shelter and means of earning income.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
Growing up, I thought success was defined by how successful one was in their chosen career.

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Believe in who you are

/ The dish/

To me, being successful means...
being happy, having people to love and who love me, having a home and community

My definition of success has changed over time. 
It is less focused on outward appearances (i.e. having a fancy car, house, job, etc…I could care less!)

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Happy with a regular life

/ Pretty much anywhere. (-;/

To me, being successful means...
Being a person I am happy and proud to be, doing my best to be good to people, animals, and the earth.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
It's more reflective of who I really AM, and less of what I thought I would DO.

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The only real valuable thing is intuition.

/ Foothills Park Overlook/

To me, being successful means...
Having no regrets.

My definition of success has changed over time. 
hen I was younger, I thought of success as a more quantifiable quality.

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Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.

/

To me, being successful means...
Being happy. having friends and family who support me in all areas of my life. Having a job/career that I am excited about and proud of.

My definition of success has not changed over time. 

 

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