“27 Years and I Still Can’t Figure It Out”
“27 Years and I Still Can’t Figure It Out”
By: Kelsey Childress
People today have seemed to forget what success is, instead most try for some get rich quick scheme. However, I do realize my plan for success has been off in the past itself, but I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to reevaluate my life and have come to a conclusion. I have no real clue! Recently I have had the privilege of reading some stories/essays like “W-O-R-K,” by Brian Braaksma, and “One Mans Kids,” by Daniel Meier. Both of which, combined with some personal life setbacks, have helped redefine my definition of success. The only way of achieving it is the hard work and dedication. Growing up I was lucky enough to have two parents that worked their tails off at giving me everything I ever needed, and even most of what I ever wanted. I was blinded by that and only saw the final product of their labor. However, they did try to teach me the meaning of work by having me get the normal high school jobs like lifeguarding and shelf stalker at a local Gibson’s. However, I still found ways to get around the actual work and get the most out of the least amount of work possible. Not until I joined the Navy, did I truly learn what real work felt like. With work days that seemed to last weeks and vacation time at virtually nil, I somehow fell into the life as a sailor, and truly learned to love the work itself. When I got out of the service I got married, and continued to not only work my hardest, but did whatever it took to make more money. On December 16, 2008, I got too comfortable in a semi truck and ended up going to fast down a dirt road. I ended up laid out on a hospital bed with a totaled truck, a broken collar bone, fractured ribs, a broken back, and one hell of a busted ego. Just when I thought my personal definition of work had been perfected, I discovered that I still had a lot of lessons to learn. It is said to say that it took a near death experience to get
By: Kelsey Childress
People today have seemed to forget what success is, instead most try for some get rich quick scheme. However, I do realize my plan for success has been off in the past itself, but I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to reevaluate my life and have come to a conclusion. I have no real clue! Recently I have had the privilege of reading some stories/essays like “W-O-R-K,” by Brian Braaksma, and “One Mans Kids,” by Daniel Meier. Both of which, combined with some personal life setbacks, have helped redefine my definition of success. The only way of achieving it is the hard work and dedication. Growing up I was lucky enough to have two parents that worked their tails off at giving me everything I ever needed, and even most of what I ever wanted. I was blinded by that and only saw the final product of their labor. However, they did try to teach me the meaning of work by having me get the normal high school jobs like lifeguarding and shelf stalker at a local Gibson’s. However, I still found ways to get around the actual work and get the most out of the least amount of work possible. Not until I joined the Navy, did I truly learn what real work felt like. With work days that seemed to last weeks and vacation time at virtually nil, I somehow fell into the life as a sailor, and truly learned to love the work itself. When I got out of the service I got married, and continued to not only work my hardest, but did whatever it took to make more money. On December 16, 2008, I got too comfortable in a semi truck and ended up going to fast down a dirt road. I ended up laid out on a hospital bed with a totaled truck, a broken collar bone, fractured ribs, a broken back, and one hell of a busted ego. Just when I thought my personal definition of work had been perfected, I discovered that I still had a lot of lessons to learn. It is said to say that it took a near death experience to get