–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 betrayal 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 saw this quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson on a friend’s Facebook share and took it here. I’m looking for small things to get me through the season. I made a fire today (first cold day in Houston); I put red in my front door wreath. Today is the first day of a secret Advent adventure I’m doing with my grandchildren. From where I sit as I type this, I can see a long red ribbon twisting in the wind. It reminds me of that scene in American Beauty when the young hero videos plastic sacks caught by wind; he sees them as dancing. That’s how it feels to view this ribbon that was wound in the tree to attract hummingbirds, but keeps positioning its long arms toward the ground. There are several white blossoms on the paperwhites that are scattered here and there in the yard. Good things. Small things.
What’s small and wonderful in your life? What is success?
Karleen Koen — writing life 
What a great list. Beautiful to consider the web of ramifications, effects, eddies of one’s actions rather than acting in the fantasy of a vacuum. What hits me at this moment is wanting to laugh more.
Warm fleese pj’s and a cup of tea. Amarillo has lows in the 20’s for the next 2 nights. Glad you finally got cooler in H.
Walking by a window and catching the glow of a sunset – cloudless skies and radiant hues.
Success (and happiness) is the not having what you want, but the realization of what you already have. So much – it is scary. OK – not original but true.
J
In this humble reader’s opinion, success is the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Its also complete freedom from the daily “to-do” list.
What is small and wonderful in my life?
-Being able to place the stray cat I found into a good home..
-Having one of those moments when what I am seeing/reading/hearing transports me to another world.
-Meeting someone who ‘gets’ me.
Success is contentment.