(Photo Credit: Google)
April 4, 2014; Friday, in front of shopping mall’s public washroom.
I met my one of my dearest friends and we talked
about our definition of Success. We’ve been friends since College. I respect
her frankness and honesty towards everything. Her honest opinion about life
made me admire and love her so much.
The last time I saw her was 2011 Graduation Rites. After
that, we communicated seldom in facebook or sometimes we send each other mail
like:
“I miss you Sis! I hope to see you soon.”
“I miss you more… we will see each other soon.”
Until, we lost track of time and the next we knew it was
already 3 years since we’ve been sending messages like that. And then, in the
most unexpected time, day, place and circumstance… we saw each other again.
I was about to enter the washroom to change my blouse (I
always bring extra blouse in the Summer) when I noticed somebody who was very
familiar and close to my heart. I was so happy and I became animated when I
recognized the woman in front of me. My friend!
We hugged each other and laughed so hard. We didn’t care
where we were and if people were staring at us. We just looked at each other
and laughed because we couldn’t believe that we were really seeing each other
at that moment.
We talked about almost everything while waiting for her
boyfriend to arrive. We got so excited talking about what happened to us after
three years. Who got married, who went to other country, who’s going to take
the board exam, who’s studying Law, MBA etc… until we talked about taking the
CPA Board examination.
Our Major was Accountancy. However, both of us didn’t choose
this major for ourselves. In her case, she wanted to study art related course
and I wanted to study literature and language related course. But since we
both wanted to make our parents happy, we followed them and we both thought that Accountancy was a very versatile course… but in my case, since
Foreign Language is very expensive and I couldn’t decide what I wanted to study
after high school graduation, I chose the same Major of my cousin who’s now a
CPA.
We studied so hard. There were a lot of sleepless nights,
serious group study, occasional cheating (like copying homework. Since we
couldn’t finish everything! We sometimes divide the tasks.), mild arguments
about the answers, debate etc… but we survived.
The question is: Did we dream of becoming a CPA? In my case, of course! I
want my license because it will serve as the proof of my eligibility. However,
CPA Board Examination is considered the most difficult board exam in my
country.
We both took review sessions for almost a year before taking
the Exam. In her case, she didn’t try for it but I did try. However, I failed.
I am not embarrass to talk about my FAILURE because even though it gave me a
lot of emotional pain… My Failure gave me hope, taught me lessons and brought
me where I am now. I am where I can actually and honestly say that I am happy and enjoying my simple life.
Both of us are teachers. I teach English, my friend teach
Accounting Subject. We’re both enrolled in MBA course and we are proud of
ourselves even if we don’t have the three letters at the end of our name; “C.P.A.”.
She asked me “Do you want to try again?”. I couldn’t answer
her at that time. Do you know why? Because deep in my heart I am contented and
happy with what I have now. However, financially speaking my current job will not be able
to support myself in the long run and I should consider my future too. Of course, I want to use my knowledge in
Accounting and other subjects. I still want to do things which are related to
my Major. However, I don’t want to let go of my current job. Why? Because even
if it will not make me financially rich… it always makes me emotionally rich.
For us success is HAPPINESS. If you are happy with what you
do no matter what the circumstances are… you are successful. There are only few
people who are happy with what they do. I always encounter people who complains
about their current job… that they feel so stress! that they are not happy, that they only trying to convince themselves that their current job will make them a better person.
Success is connected with ENJOYMENT. If you are enjoying
… you are already considered as someone who is successful.
Always remember to mix enjoyment with your tasks and activities, because if you
don’t enjoy… how can you be happy? How can you feel that somehow you are
successful?
Success is being YOU. By being true to yourself… you are
already in the process of becoming a successful person. Bear in mind that money
is not the only way to measure how rich you are, how successful you are… there
are always intangible things and/or ways to measure it.
Advice: don’t compare. Don’t ever COMPARE yourself to other
people. If others are successful in their career, don’t ENVY them. Why?
Because before they became successful they also experience a lot of things;
maybe painful things before they arrive in where they are now… before they
became who they are now. Their lives are different from yours. You are
different from them. They are different from you. You can never be like them
and they can never be you. Everybody is distinct from one another. That’s why
we should not compare ourselves. You should not compare. I should not compare.
Life is complicated. I have experienced a lot and I want to
experience more. Through experiences we can learn more about ourselves, life
and emotions in this world. We can develop sense of EMPATHY that would lead us
to understand other people. If you want to be understood… try to understand
others too. It’s give and take. What you give is what you will definitely
receive.
So now, I am all about doing what makes me happy. I enjoy
everything that I do. Even if there are times I feel tired, hopeless, depress
and stress I always tell to myself that these emotions and feelings will help
me to become a better person. Because right now my priority is MY happiness. My Happiness is all about helping other people, inspiring them, giving smile and happiness and sense of security.
That is SUCCESS for us. Even if I am not a C.P.A., even if I
don’t have high salary like my friends and relatives… I always feel rich deep
in my heart whenever I can give joy and happiness in the life of other people. Of
course, my priority will change in the future... it will change for the sake of my future family. Family will be my priority because family will be the definition of my HAPPINESS.
Have a good day everyone!
Sincerely,
Erica/Erix
Things that made me happy:
- Teaching Japanese children. I love children because they are very simple, the exact definition of purity and innocence and they make me feel alive and happy. Aside from that, I ALWAYS attract children.
- Sweet Potato. For some reason, I'm into eating sweet potato. This root crop has a lot of benefits. it has potassium, fiber, beta-carotene... etc. in other words... it is packed with a lot of vitamins and minerals.
- Receiving simple and cute letters from children. I am always amaze with how children could easily and honestly express themselves.
- Messages from my friends. My friends in Japan sent me pictures of Sakura. It's spring time now and they knew how much I wanted to see Sakura. If I can finish everything that I have to finish next year before April... maybe I'll see the scene for the first time. :)
- Meeting my friend in an unexpected way. I really love her!!!!!!!
