Monday Musings: Why Longevity Doesn't Equal Success

Yesterday, as I was in the car on my way to an event, I started thinking about what success means to me. Why is it that to be considered successful at something, we have to do that thing forever? If we stop, then we have failed. If we stop, then we were too weak to continue.

We tend to laud the unwavering dedication to a craft or profession as the epitome of success. If you've been a lawyer for 20 years, a makeup artist for 30, or even a dedicated beauty enthusiast like myself for a decade and a half, people often attribute your success to the fact that you've done it for so long. Even relationships are only considered successful if they never end.

But is this true, that success should mainly be determined by longevity? I don’t think so.

We, as human beings, change all the time. The components of our physical body live and die like clockwork - the bones in our body regenerate every ten years, our blood cells are replaced within weeks or months depending on what kind they are, our skin every couple weeks or month or so depending on age, and our hair every seven years. We look the same, but we are regularly physically renewed.

It is the same inside our minds. The things that we choose to do is just what’s visible over the roiling depths of our internal lives. What we don’t choose to do are far more numerous if not downright incalculable, and more are added every day. They are as much a part of us as the things we do choose. I would even hazard to say that our lives are more defined by the roads not taken, the paths we avoid, and the passions we let simmer down. Yet, we often overlook this aspect and focus solely on the relentless pursuit of a singular goal.

Why then do we look at massive changes as unpleasant? Why must they be held at bay for as long as possible?

Perhaps, it's our inherent resistance to the unknown. We fear the loss of identity that comes with a significant change, and uncertainty is one of the most uncomfortable things we have to deal with. But change, whether in our careers, relationships, or even beauty routines, can be refreshing and downright necessary.

So, what if we've been looking at success all wrong? Maybe it's not about how long we stick to something but how well we understand when it's time to move on. We change all the time - our bodies, our minds, our interests - so why should success be any different?

Change can be scary, no doubt about it. But it's also exciting, refreshing, and sometimes exactly what we need. It doesn't mean we've failed or that we're weak. It just means we're human and we're growing.

Let's stop thinking of success as this rigid, never-ending path. Instead, let's celebrate the twists, turns, and even the complete U-turns that make our journey uniquely ours. Who knows? Embracing a new way of looking at success might just be the change we all need. Because, in the end, success isn't just about what we keep doing; it's about what we learn, how we grow, and the choices we make along the way.