Success Paper (LONG)

Well Ellen asked for it.. (Ellen be careful what you wish for...you might get it) Success What is it? My first thought here is how are success and failure really defined in the dictionary so I went to Dictionary .com to find out exactly what these words mean. Here is the information that I found. Success is defined in the dictionary as " 1. The achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted: attributed their success in business to hard work. 2. a. The gaining of fame or prosperity: an artist spoiled by success. b. The extent of such gain. 3. One that is successful: The plan was a success. 4. Obsolete. A result or an outcome. [Latin successus, from past participle of succ dere, to succeed. See succeed.] [Download Now or Buy the Book] Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. success n 1: an event that accomplishes its intended purpose; "let's call heads a success and tails a failure"; "the election was a remarkable success for Republicans" [ant: failure] 2: an attainment that is successful; "his success in the marathon was unexpected"; "his new play was a great success" 3: a state of prosperity or fame; "he is enjoying great success"; "he does not consider wealth synonymous with success" [ant: failure] 4: a person with a record of successes; "his son would never be the achiever that his father was"; "only winners need apply"; "if you want to be a success you have to dress like a success" [syn: achiever, winner, succeeder] [ant: failure] Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University success, AR (town, FIPS 67550) Location: 36.45452 N, 90.72285 W Population (1990): 170 (77 housing units) Area: 0.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 72470 success, MO Zip code(s): 65570 Source: U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau success SUCCESS: in Acronym Finder Failure is defined as " fail?ure P Pronunciation Key (f l y r) n. 1. The condition or fact of not achieving the desired end or ends: the failure of an experiment. 2. One that fails: a failure at one's career. 3. The condition or fact of being insufficient or falling short: a crop failure. 4. A cessation of proper functioning or performance: a power failure. 5. Nonperformance of what is requested or expected; omission: failure to report a change of address. 6. The act or fact of failing to pass a course, test, or assignment. 7. A decline in strength or effectiveness. 8. The act or fact of becoming bankrupt or insolvent. [Alteration of failer, default, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French faillir, to fail. See fail.] [Download Now or Buy the Book] Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. fail?ure (f l y r) n. The inability to function or perform satisfactorily. Source: The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. Main Entry: fail?ure Function: noun 1 : omission of occurrence or performance; specifically : a failing to perform a duty or expected action 2 : a lack of success or adequacy 3 : a failing in business Source: Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc. Main Entry: fail?ure Pronunciation: 'fA(&)l-y&r Function: noun : a state of inability to perform a vital function --see HEART FAILURE Source: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc. failure n 1: an act that fails; "his failure to pass the test" 2: an event that does not accompli****s intended purpose; "the surprise party was a complete failure" [ant: success] 3: lack of success; "he felt that his entire life had been a failure"; "that year there was a crop failure" [ant: success] 4: a person with a record of failing; someone who loses consistently [syn: loser, nonstarter, unsuccessful person] [ant: achiever] 5: an unexpected omission; "he resented my failure to return his call"; "the mechanic's failure to check the brakes" 6: inability to discharge all your debts as they come due; "the company had to declare bankruptcy"; "fraudulent loans led to the failure of many banks" [syn: bankruptcy] 7: loss of ability to function normally; "kidney failure" Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University failure The inability of a system or system component to perform a required function within specified limits. A failure may be produced when a fault is encountered. What I found is very interesting in this exercise was the dictionary had more definitions on failure than success. So I guess I am not alone with understanding success. So I guess what I will explore is how the words definitions relate to me. Where do I sit with the research of these words? Funny how failure seems to be very well defined and I understand it better. Success's definition seems to be very ambiguous to me. Almost like you can plug and play anything into it and you can say anything is a success. Failure is clearly defined. I go back to me and black and white world here...I am more comfortable when things are clearly defined. I don't do well in the world when I am left to interrupting what it really means. It's a difficult for me. How do I over come this difficultly in dealing with this part of life...the ambiguous? I guess practice using this function would help. How do I gain practice with coping with this problem. Another question I have to answer. Dealing with Success with Weight Loss and other Areas of life Weight loss has been good for me. It's the most weight I have ever lost. But of course I didn't do it alone. I did have a plan in this part of my life. That was something that was defined and easy for me to understand. It has worked so far. So why don't I look at this as a success rather than failure. I guess I go back to the definition of success and look at the words "event that accomplishes its intended purpose." My original purpose for this surgery was to get healthy....lose this OSA, get rid of the high blood pressure meds that were multiplying every other month on me, and live a longer life since it seemed as if I could die sooner than later. As I started this journey I was happy with these items being my end goal or success measurement stick. I get to the middle point of this journey and decided....I need a number goal so I make one just because it's a measurement in life and not so ambiguous. I say I want to be NORMAL....Normal weight for me would be 150 pounds range. Well I set this about 6 mos after surgery and find at 19 months I am still not there. I never really defined when I would hit this but with the 18 month window which is thrown around about this surgery I guess I assumed it would be when this window closed. Since I am not there now I look at my original goals and say I have failed at some. I did not get rid of OSA, did not meet 150 pounds. I did get healthier, lose the meds and I am still living. So it seems as if I am in half way mode for success monitor I guess. So how do I deal with this? Right now it hasn't been done very well. I feel like I am floundering and need to put a plan in place because with a plan you can do things better in my book. It was interesting that I found I have this problem in other areas of my life as well. It's a tough pill to swallow. But I have to deal with it. What can I do to plan Success? Planning skills need to be honed. I don't think I do my own planning. I usually look at someone else's plan first and try and make it work for me. Perhaps that is part of the problem I don't think of it myself. It's a skill that is probably not used much by me. So I guess I need to find out how to plan. I need to be able to look to the future as a place marker for some of these milestones...I tend to try and complete things quickly rather than thinking it will take a few years to get there. I am very much like a lot of the American society. We want it now. We don't want to wait for anything. Being crunched for time, aging does not help with me so I put off skills that would require more of my time and do the easy stuff first. Coping Skills I could use to live with success Planning Adjusting Know not all plans are a success but a learning experience Identify the failures and learn from them.

Wow, Debbie, You've become the Dr. Phil of WLS. It's gonna take some time to digest this but thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing. Love, Kathleen

Can I keep my hair please?? LOL. Glad you enjoyed it....although I did warn you it was long right!

Wow Deb, Why am I paying my own therapist??????? You really hit some points that I need to work on also. Keep it coming...I, personally, love it. Ellen

Ellen, I wonder why I pay the therapist too. Although if it weren't for open discussion perhaps these items would never come to light for me. I am lucky to be able to listen to things better these days. On the road to recovery I guess you could say.....Thanks Hugs and Fleece Blankets Debbie

Hey Deb, You are a success girl. You should be so proud. I'm gonna have Charlie make you up a shingle with your new angle. I love it. Dr. Deb, the WLS Analyst. Keep up the good job. I'm along for the ride. ((HUGS)) Elissa

Can the shingle say $.05 please.....And instead of Dr. Deb how about Lucy II! LOL. So you believe in the ambigous word success huh! LOL. I am getting there it just takes me a long time. I guess you could say that I marinate before I cook! Debbie