A very successful gentleman was telling Aab about all his achievements and talents. He pulled out a five-page CV describing his academic qualifications, his awards and medals, his work experience in some of the most prestigious organizations, his rise in the corporate ladder, his financial success and the recognitions he received from international bodies. He also showed him a variety of other accomplishments beyond his domain specialization and how he has been a winner in anything that he set out to do.
Aab of course listened to him intently, nodded his head and showed his appreciation, and made suitable noises to express how impressed he is. The man then went on to say that he considers it only the beginning, and he is very confident that he will achieve much more in the years to come. Aab acknowledged that also and wished him all the best.
When the gentleman had gone away, Aab sat down to think about his own achievements. He wanted to make a list of what he has attained or succeeded in – and the list would just not begin at all! However much he thought about his past, Aab could not really think of one accomplishment of his which qualifies as a great success in the eyes of the world. Aab was always a bystander, a very mediocre person, and one who had nothing to show for all the years and years he spent on this planet.
But, Aab reflected, he was still a contented and satisfied person. He had no regrets, no frustrations, and no unfulfilled ambitions. Life was going very smoothly for him, he mused – unlike most ‘successful people.’
