What is Success in Life?

A friend posted 11 rules, or life lessons, according to Bill Gates in Facebook.

My thoughts and comments:

What Bill Gates said is generally true but not absolutely true. Rule #11 is sort of funny. It says if you born poor, it's not your mistake. But if you die poor, it is your mistake.  

Have you heard of this Chinese saying? What a person's life is like, or whether it will be successful or not, depends on these 5 determining factors: birth, luck, feng shui, karma (charitable work or helping others) and education.

Indeed life is not fair. Only death is fair (everybody dies). If you were born to poor parents in a poor and backward country, you would face much greater challenge in life. If you were born to rich parents in an advanced country, you would gain much advantage to succeed in life. Still, Bill Gates' advice or life lessons are good references to think about.

My philosophy is that whatever card life gave you at the beginning, you just have to play the game the best you can. Got an Ace? Good for you. Got a 5 only? You still have to play the game and never give up.

What is success in life? There are so many different definitions. To most people, it means money, power and fame. To some spiritual people, it simply means health and happiness. To me, success in life is not about money and material possessions. Peace !

Fame (2)

On July 31, 2014, I wrote about Fame in this blog. Here are more of my thoughts and comments:

Being famous is not a bad thing, but it is not a 100% good thing either. Being famous gives you many advantages but also some disadvantages. The more famous you are, the more privacy you'll lose. 

Some famous people have to disguise themselves in order to go to public places. People who are not famous are more free to go wherever they want, and don't have to worry about being mobbed or stared at. 

Many famous people just stay within a circle of friends in private settings only. They seldom or never go to public places.They often have to worry about how they look, where they go, what they do, what people they are with, and on and on. 

One can be happy and successful without being famous. Fame is not something absolutely necessary for a good life. Health is. 

Fast Edi Thoughts and Comments

Burt Reynolds and What is Success ?

In the news, also posted by a friend in Facebook, Burt Reynolds, the famous movie star of the 70s, is apparently broke and is selling off his stuff. 

I feel sad to hear about this. He was a big star. However, he is not alone. Many people succeeded in beating poverty, but failed to manage wealth. As comedian Bill Hicks said, "It's just a ride." 

This is what I think: a successful person is not necessarily rich and famous. A successful person is one who is able to live happily under any conditions in life, whether rich or poor, famous or unknown, married or single, powerful or common, and is able to do what he or she loves to do. Enjoy your ride !!!

Miley Cyrus and Mexican Flag

Miley Cyrus was performing in Monterey, Mexico. She wore a big prosthetic butt while some male dancers hit it with the Mexican flag. She was investigated and fined by the Mexican authority for her disrespectful and degrading act.  

My thoughts and comments: 


When in Mexico or any country, you respect the laws of that country. Problems would arise if you insisted on using your own country's laws, culture and values to "over-rule" those of another country. 

Miley Cyrus is a good singer. She didn't really need to show her butt, real or fake, to prove her talent. She went nude on a wrecking ball, twerked and behaved like a soft-porn star etc. etc. all due to business reasons. I believe it is simply the business reality that she embraced. In other words, the almighty dollar, fame and celebrity status are more attractive to her than just the artistic value of her singing and performing craft. She wanted to be a diva, not just a singer.

Last but not least, when you are in Mexico, and if you are not a Mexican, please don't wear a T-shirt with a Mexican flag on it. I have a friend who did that and was taken to a police station for questioning. Good Day !!! 

Fame

The more famous you are, the more privacy you'll lose. Fame is not a 100% good thing. Loss of privacy is part of the price to pay for being famous. You can't be famous and not becoming a public figure. How can you be famous and unknown at the same time?

Land of the Free ?

I am not an American, but I feel sad that USA is going down. Selfish capitalism (or should I say corporatism and plutocracy?), greed for money, fame and power, endless wars and military involvements everywhere, and its ever-increasing heavy debts  - all these led to its decline. 
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American capitalism works wonderfully for the 1% but fails terribly for the 99%.The recent shut down of the U.S.Government is so crazy and ridiculous. 
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Uncle Sam spies on everyone: friends and enemies, American citizens and citizens of the whole world, foreign leaders, embassies, countries, organizations, companies, individuals, EU, even UN, I mean everyone.
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Now think about the global image of Uncle Sam in the world. Sad to say that USA no longer brings respect and admiration from the world, not even from its own citizens. Looks like America is no longer Land of the Free. Please take care !!!