Answers on a postcard...

January 19, 2010

I've got an application form to fill in, and one of the questions on it is:

What do you think has been your greatest achievement in life so far?

And I have been pondering this for days, and I still have no idea. The word achievement makes it sound as if it has to be something impressive, something that would make other people say 'wow'! It also sounds like it should be something that I'm proud to have accomplished.

I'm not sure I can think of a single thing I've ever done which falls into both those categories at once.

I could come up with some random qualifications and exams I've passed. I mean - yeah, I was happy to get a distinction, it was good - but is it really the pinnacle of achievement? Is it really something which I would lie on my deathbed and say, I'm proud I got that? Er, no.

I can come up with other stuff I've done that I was proud of at the time - things I did at work, cakes I made for weddings, pieces of writing, that kind of thing - but again, none of them on their own are impressive enough to deserve the title of greatest achievement.

So, what about the cheesy old, "I've brought up a beautiful, clever, happy child" type stuff? Well I have a bit of a problem with that, because I think that's Izzy's achievement rather than mine. I think it's a bit arrogant to assume that she's great because of something I did. And although I am very proud of her, I have no desire to steal her thunder. And besides, most people can do a half-decent job of bringing up kids, so it hardly counts as a major achievement.

I guess the thing I'm most proud of is my resilience, my ability to keep on pushing forward even when things are shit, and my enthusiasm for life in general. But that's more of a personality trait than an achievement...

I'm screwed aren't I?

I need to get a PhD or write a book or run a marathon or do something amazing.

Comments:
I'll probably be back in London this weekend. If I have time, we can all get together and discuss your life. :)

Oberion
 
Perhaps for most of us, our greatest achievement is to be able to live and carry on living with purpose. That is a feat in itself.
 
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