People in my life tell me that I am successful. This I don’t understand, because I live an ordinary lifestyle. I worked in a Telecommunication company for two years until they declared bankruptcy; attended university to earn my degree in Sociology, but I could never understand what makes me successful. What makes one successful in their social circles or families? I often see others around me scrambling to make "the dollars", and think it is preposterous and unnecessary to become a millionaire.

I’m not saying that making money makes a person unsuccessful or unhappy; rather, success shouldn’t be measured solely on the size of your house or the three cars in your driveway. Throughout human history, some of the greatest philosophers have been trying to find the answer to define suc cess. One thing they agree on is you really have to search your soul to define one’s success.

It’s not just earning your PHD or Bachelor of Arts degree. I believe the best answer to find success is like baking a cake or pie. You spread the oil of love and compassion onto the pan. Take a spoonful of ambition, and mix it with your career. Pour one cup of kindness and sprinkle generosity into the mix. Add one cup of flour that represents your achievements, and one or two eggs for a healthy happy family. Mix together. Put it into the oven of hope, and you will have a good chance for a perfect recipe of success.

To illustrate how success can be measured properly, some friends of mine have small homes, average career ambitions and a happy family life. They have unintentionally followed the recipe of a successful lifestyle. I should also include the recipe for persons with disabilities. The recipe is the same, but you need some extra additives. Maybe everyone needs these additives, but more so for persons who are deemed to have limitations. The additives are family support, and the will to prove yourself to others as an equal contributor to society.

I can personally prove this statement, because I have been visually impaired since birth. I was educated in the regular school system, and learned to adapt to the world around me. Many people believed I would succeed in adulthood, but some needed more proof. At present, I have proven to others that I can follow the recipe for success. I completed high school, received a teaching English as a Second Language certificate, worked in an office environment and studied at University. I have also spread respect and love, and will soon sprinkle generosity into the mix by helping blind children.

The recipe is not finished. I have yet to start a family of my own and help children in some countries. Thus, I will mix the additive of will and strength to prove myself successful. I have the will to follow and complete the recipe, and wrote this article to help others who wish to try to start and follow the recipe for success.