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The older I get, the less I know

Reflecting on success and the things that matter

2 min readMar 6, 2025
Picture taken by author of flowers at Juniper Level Botanical Gardens

That’s what I’ve realized over the years.

In my teens and early twenties, I felt like I knew how the world worked. I had a quiet confidence in my optimism, refusing to become cynical and jaded.

For a while, I’d wondered: are quantitative measures the only ones that truly matter? Was it the grade you got, the GPA you achieved, or the number and types of jobs you landed that defined who you were as a person? I felt like the answer, too often, was a hard “no.”

But the truth is, in some spaces, the prestige and status you’ve gained through your work matter a lot, particularly in various professions like law and medicine.

Honestly, I’m still trying to figure it out. It seems like some things are important to some people, but completely devalued by others.

I think at the end of the day, it all depends on how you define things. What may seem like success to one person could be completely different to another. And even one person alone could have various definitions throughout their lives.

For me, it varies even day to day. Today, I’m proud that I finally got out of bed. That seems like such a small accomplishment, but it’s something I’m grateful I finally mustered the energy for.

I really don’t know what to expect in the days to come, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out along the way.

Even if I don’t, at least I’ve tried.

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xine way 🌟
xine way 🌟

Written by xine way 🌟

Aspiring librarian who writes, games, and walks on the side. Always happy to connect with writers on Medium!

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