Rhia’s Corner

By Rhiannon Waits

Success in the lives of others

            In certain areas of the United States, and I suppose the world as well, people lack the ability to feel joy in others successes. I had only seen this terrible affliction in a very few people until I got older and begin to travel. It was then I learned that many people do not have the ability to be happy when someone other than himself or herself succeed or prosper at anything.

            At first, I thought there must be some kind of misunderstanding because I could not fathom not being happy for someone’s success. Yet, as time went on, I saw the displeasure on the faces of some as they told of how this person or that person had a new house or a new car. The grumpy faces were quickly followed with burning words of raw rumor or unscrupulous tales of how this person got ahead. As I waited repeatedly to hear happiness that someone had achieved their goals or had managed to make life happy - I was repeatedly disappointed.

            There would be times I would sit down to a meal and hear horrible tales of how this person may have a lot of money but it was because of drugs or some illegal behavior. Sometimes I would catch a gleam of satisfaction as they would learn forward and tell how her husband or his wife was cheating on them or hanging out at bars getting plastered while making a spectacle of his or herself. It seemed the only real joy these types of people had was talking about what was going on in some other person’s life.

            If you talked to the person that had gotten ahead, you would be told about how you cannot park your new car anywhere without it being keyed or dinged in some unexplainable way. They also found they lost friends when they found success. They did not understand why they become the objects of scorn, rumors, and ill will.

            I would try to begin a regiment of positive reinforcements and suggestions in behalf of the clueless victim only to be met with anger from the embittered entity. When I would suggest good reasons for success or happiness in behalf of the victims, I was then met with anger, bitter words and was informed I knew nothing about the person or the situation. I suddenly knew how Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz” felt when she discovered she was no longer in Kansas.

The country in which we live is awesome, with scenery that kept you in awe of its greatness. The food alone is enough to make you grateful to live in such a country! What would make anyone be so bitter and have such mean spirits towards each other? Whenever tragedy strikes, we always show immeasurable love, kindness, and support for those affected. Why is it some have problems being happy for each other’s fortunes?

Being happy for someone’s successes should be an important part of who we are. It costs us nothing but a smile and a genuine warm fuzzy feeling. If you think about it, doing this would give you a good feeling and keep you happy. This alone is conducive to your own successful future. Positive energy begets positive energy and good wishes given are good wishes received. We should not just be gracious when others need our assistance but whenever they surpass our financial and social status as well.

We should find brotherhood and sisterhood in each other’s successes and happiness’s and not just in times of catastrophes and sorrows. We should be able to wake up each morning in a world that is capable of cheering us on when we are on top and still climbing. We should not have to be devastated by hurricanes or disasters to see the love and support of those around us. Remember long after you read this to encourage others to climb the ladder of success and be happy when they do. Some day they may be the one that tells you the secret to success and be the ones to cheer you on when you surpass them.

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

Albert Schweitzer

"Sometimes I would almost rather have people take away years of my life than take away a moment." - Pearl Bailey

An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.

Buddha