Thursday, June 30, 2005

What's really important

I found this on Snopes today. It's one of those things you might get in an email forward from your mom. But it's one of the good ones.

You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read this straight through and you'll get the point. It is trying to make an awesome point!

Here's the first quiz:

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The facts are, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

2 comments:

Heather Meadows said...

What is the "first statement"? I'm having trouble figuring out why you responded the way you did, although I think you ended up coming to the same conclusion I came to.

The lesson I came away with was that the average person isn't going to care about my worldly achievements, but my nephews will remember how I used to run in the sprinkler and play soccer with them.

I'm really competitive, and for some reason I tend to think I should be achieving, achieving, achieving. Except--that inner motivation you talk about? I don't seem to have any. All I've got is the bad kind of motivation, where I want to prove myself to others and be famous. And that's not going to make me happy.

In other words, this lesson was another much-needed reality check for my ego.

Heather Meadows said...

I guess since I've always been one of the "envious people of the world", I wasn't thinking in terms of what this quiz says about successful people. (That's not sarcasm or anything, just honesty. I envy all kinds of people.)

Thanks for clarifying. My perceptions have been broadened!