Ilike watching interviews with great personalities and cine celebrities. I am curious about how successful people live and spend their life. I get some motivation from these interviews. Sometimes I even visualise myself being interviewed by someone. It is when I try to answer the same questions that I realise how they became so successful! 😉
In almost all the interviews a common question is about their greatest achievement in life. This usually gets me thinking about my achievements, and I am really hard-pressed to pinpoint any ‘noticeable’ achievement! This gives me an inferiority complex and my virtual interview stops there abruptly.
I found that the literal meaning of achievement is ‘a thing done successfully with effort, skill, or courage’. I decided to scan through my life starting from childhood, school and college days to find out my greatest achievements. I realised that spotting an all-time great achievement is near impossible. This is because it varies with time. The greatest achievement during my kindergarten days was getting a second prize in ‘frog jumping’. Getting the first rank in the 7th grade, getting good marks in the 10th grade, securing a reasonably good rank in the Engineering Entrance Exam and qualifying in the GATE exam for post-graduate admission were my significant achievements during school and college days.
This was also one of the HR interview questions I used to face in the corporate world. At that time, professional accomplishments like taking a certification or successful completion of a project in a short span of time were considered proud achievements. But not any more. Now, none of those come to my mind while thinking of achievements!
These days for me things like baking a cake, stitching a dress, cleaning a room, going for that early morning yoga class when I don’t feel like getting up even (especially when it’s raining), practising a yoga posture with ease that was once considered very difficult, going to dance class regularly, or anything that makes me proud and happy is an achievement. Starting a blog of my own was my greatest achievement last year.
I think it is important that we have a feeling of accomplishment even if the magnitude is small by normal standards. The things we can achieve are related to the time and space where we live. So there is no point in my comparing my achievements with those of great personalities. Anyway, my greatest accomplishment so far is being where I am now!
But one thing I have to admit; whatever I have done or achieved so far was with a selfish motive, either for myself or for my family and friends. I don’t think any of my achievements were keeping the society/world in mind. So I am seriously thinking of doing something selflessly. I have to help others to achieve something valuable for themselves in whatever positive way I can. Anyway, life is always a ‘work in progress’ and is not marked by one significant achievement. Miles to go before I sleep 🙂
What’s your greatest achievement in life? Can you answer this without thinking much? What are your thoughts on this? Always remember measuring your greatest achievement should be completely personal; so don’t let anyone else tell you what you should be proud of!
Happy empty nesting 🙂
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Hello Mineetha,
Beautifully written. I always enjoy reading your blog. I was thinking about my achievements. Actually speaking I was an average grader and I did not achieve a career in my life. I spent all my days for my family and when I look back, I can feel the happiness of a proud mom. But now I can tell u loudly I am achieving lots of satisfaction and happiness in helping people. I am a volunteer in 2 organisation in Bangalore. My main goal is to help people. I am satisfied in my work. Keep writing. This makes me motivated.
Thank you, Parvathy. Very happy to know that you are volunteering now. It’s a great opportunity to give something back to the community.