The Happiness of Success

I recently read two things that intrigued me. One was an article about Denmark. Apparently they are the happiest people in the world. The second was Malcolm Gladwell's most recent book, Outliers. He outlines the sociological factors that create a successful person, such as the Beatles or Bill Gates. Both of these concepts, happiness and success have always intrigued me. In fact I even wrote a personal narrative, with the same title as this, in my high school creative writing class. It is the only writing I have kept from my junior high and high school days (this was before I had a personal computer of course). I wrote it at a time when I was not very happy nor was I on a traditional path to success. I've come a long way.

I consider myself to be a happy person. Although they may be extremely different than me, I have a strong and healthy family. My closest friends span the world, from Italy to Ecuador to the Bay Area. I also have been given and created multiple opportunities, all of which allow me to follow my personal dreams on a daily basis. In terms of success, I'd say I've had some of that as well. I've spent the years post high school educating myself; obtaining two bachelors and a masters. I've worked for a national nonprofit where I was the youngest person to receive an award in management. More recently I was honored with a Congressional recognition for my teaching. In short, I've made my loved ones proud.

But this is not about me nor is it about the type of happiness and success that the developed world clings so tightly too. Rather, I want to discuss these ideas from my understanding (biased as it may be) of the developing world, and specifically Ecuador. I plan to take the discussion across a couple of posts (if my computer, who is dying a slow death, can handle it) and interject personal examples from the people I have had the privilege of knowing here. This will serve to conclude my time here, reflect my opinions on my experiences, good and bad, and thank those that have supported me from near and far. I hope to intrigue you even more than the Denmark article and Gladwell's book,coupled with my experiences in Ecuador, have intrigued me.

The past and future of Ecuador.