you have impeccable timing

my husband was looking through some old notebooks last night and came across something interesting. when i graduated from high school, i was valedictorian and consequently was forced to give a speech at graduation. last night, he found the poem upon which i based the entire speech. there is apparently a large discussion on who the actual author is (please see this link for more information) but whomever wrote it, i think it is a powerful poem.

Success

What is success?
To laugh often and much,
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children,
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betraryal of false friends,
To appreciate beauty,
To find the best in others,
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition,
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived,
This is to have succeeded.

i thought now was a quite fortunate time to rediscover this poem. as most of you who read this know, i'm having difficulty with the fact that i don't have a job yet. these few lines helped remind me that i am more than the job i have. i can be successful without a flashy, high-paying job. there are many things much more important in life than employment and a house. let's hope i can keep this focus for a little while anyway.