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You are here: Home / Cycle-of-Life Season / 8 Harvest and Celebration / Success: Living a Life of Achievement

Success: Living a Life of Achievement

Aleksandr Deyneka, At the Finish Line (1927)

Sometimes people ask “What is the purpose of life?” or “Does life have a purpose?” These are confusing ways of asking the question, because they suggest an inquiry into a cosmic purpose at which we can only guess. Asked like that, these questions are unrelated to anything that is going on in our lives.

A better is “What purpose have I served in my life,” in other words, “What good have I done” or “What have I accomplished.” This does not necessarily refer to the time we won a trophy in high school; achievement here means a meaningful achievement, something that gives a sense of meaning and purpose to life.

By bringing the question back to achievement, we tie in our relationships, engagement and meaning, and then reach out spiritually with a sense of purpose. This is not a description of cosmic forces, merely a description of how human beings thrive and flourish.

Real

True Narratives

From the side of unattained goals, and disappointment:

  • Natalie Hodges, Uncommon Measure: A Journey Through Music, Performance, and the Science of Time (Bellevue Literary Press, 2022): “A Violinist Rethinks Her Devotion to Music, With Emotion and Erudition”

Imaginary

Fictional Narratives

Zora Neale Hurston,  Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), about a Southern black woman in the 1930s who journeys “from free-spirited girl to a woman of independence”. Other works by this author:

  • Zora Neale Hurston, Novels & Stories (Library of America, 1995).
  • Zora Neale Hurston, The Complete Stories (Amereon, Ltd., 1999).

Music: Composers, artists, and major works

Beethoven, Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93: as regards today’s subject, the music speaks for itself, exuberant and joyful throughout – the essence of a successful personal life (performances conducted by Harnoncourt, Gardiner, Karajan, Thielemann and Karajan).

  • First movement (Allegro vivace e con brio): full-throttle exuberance
  • Second movement (Allegretto scherzando): playful
  • Third movement (tempo di Minuetto): taking stock of the riches – not the money or the goods but the personal treasures
  • Fourth movement (Allegro vivace): full throttle to the end!

Other works:

  • Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 4 in E-flat major, 7, “Grand” (1797): exhibiting “strong, triumphant demonstration of masterful musical architecture.”
  • Glazunov, Poeme Epique (Epic Poem), Op. Posth.
  • Ben-Haim, Piano Quartet in C Major, Op. 4 (1921)
  • Atterberg, Symphony No. 2 in F Major, Op. 6 (1913)
  • Atterberg, Symphony No. 3 in D major, "Västkustbilder" (West Coast Pictures), Op. 10 (1916)
  • Atterberg, Symphony No. 8, Op. 48 (1945)
  • Sergei Bortkiewicz, symphonies: Symphony No. 1 in D Major, "From My Homeland", Op. 52 (1945); Symphony No. 2 in E-flat Major, 55 (1947)
  • Raga Haripriya is a contemporary ragam composed by the iconic Indian flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia.
  • Raga Malgunji is a Hindustani classical raag for late morning(performances by Banerjee and Banerjee).

Albums and artists:

  • Nat King Cole was a great artist early in his career. His surviving family has cooperated on the compilation and release of a 7-CD collection of his early performances.
  • Steven Halpern, “Higher Ground” album

Poetry

From the dark side:

  • Edgar Lee Masters, “Washington McNeely”
  • Wallace Stevens, “Disillusionment of Ten O’Clock”

Music: songs and other short pieces

  • Nawang Khechog, The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel in the Himalayas

August 26, 2010

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Acknowledging Anticipation Appreciation Belonging Choosing Confidence Focus Honoring uniqueness Judgment Motivation Planning Prudence Remembrance Restraining Retreat Reverie Self-knowledge Tenacity Transcending ego Week 01: Human Worth

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