Read and think about the following statement:Only people who earn a lot of money are successful. Do you agree or disagree with this definition of success? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.

I studied hard when I was a high school student. I created a life plan in getting good grades on exams, applying a prestigious university, having a decent job then living happily ever after. I have told my friend that the vision of my life is to earn sufficient money for pleasant lifestyle. Remembering that my friend scolded me in having no ambitions as a youth. She thought I will obtain achievement if I’m willing to take responsibility. For some people, they compete as hard as they can to earn more trophies. But for me, the only thing I want is to live unobtrusive and with happiness. When I achieve the life living like that, it’s kind of the success.

I have read a novel named Dream of the Red Chamber. The story describes that the sentient stone begs a Taoist priest and a Buddhist monk to take it with them to see the world. The stone reborns as a nobility, living in aristocratic family. The main protagonist “stone” is a handsome highly intelligent man and furthermore, he is rich! However, he doesn’t like to take courses and deal with occasions in the family. In other words, he hates the obligations but loves privileges of being nobilities. Due to lack motivations to make his family prosper, his family fortune declines. Finally, the family was destructed. What I’m saying is that people may realize the things behind the success you defined, the pay-off.

There is another concept about all the things taken by the universe. It says that everything you have doesn’t belong to you. For example, if you worked hard and reached an accomplishment, after that, you got canned. You shouldn’t be frustrated, because the things are not for you, it’s just a gift you borrowed from the universe. This idea also talks about the successes that not only rely on how much efforts you have put into it but also depend on luck. There are too many things out of expectations, but the only thing we can do is to protect our heart from long-term depressions.

I believe that success is to find the balance between give and take and live as happy as you can. I’d like to say that money is essential for being successful, but not all elements of constituting successes. Everyone who has their definitions of success makes a choice to pursue life they want. But while encountering failure, remember not to get stuck in it. Nothing can drag you down if you’re not holding on to it. That’s my idea of being successful.