I came across this piece from Ed Batista today and it speaks volumes.
It got me thinking about how we view our status in life and the value we place on it. In many ways it can consume our energy in life. We don't often utter it, but we live it out for all the world to see. What's my Facebook status, what's my job title or how much mortgage can I afford. Often these are just masks for other motivations. Most specifically to be seen as someone worth paying attention to.
In my days of roaming the corporate plain, I used multiple forms of status to give me a brief feeling (note brief) of satisfaction. Obviously, the working life didn't make a lot of sense to me. Like the man or woman who drives home feeling glad they earn six figures. The feeling satisfies, but for only a moment.
Here are a list of some things that I see as long-term status symbols. And can stand the raging winds when they come:
- A relationship with God. Not religion, but a friend to scream at (I've been doing this a lot lately), cry to and a trusted source for insight.
- A family. Include as many or few to nail this one.
- A mission. Something you pursue until the last breath.
- A community. A group of people that you can give heart to (thanks Cyndi).
- A healthy physical lifestyle. This communicates the value you place on the gift of life itself.
