Wrightstown Article #10

SUCCESS — AND KINDNESS AND UNDERSTANDING
by Eric Chaet

When I can’t bear being underestimated any longer, I sometimes puff myself up, trying to convince myself that I’m a success — only not in the way the people who underestimate me define success.

But it’s a lie. At best, I’m succeeding, but I haven’t succeeded yet — and I still may come to nothing. Or it could be that I will have been a drag, net, on those who interacted with me — more a cost than a benefit.

I don’t expect to have succeeded by the time of my death.

But I don’t believe that anyone else has succeeded, either — though I often spend time with people who are proud of the successes they believe they have achieved.

How can anyone be a success, while rewards don’t go to the righteous, and while the innocent suffer and the wicked prosper?

Some believe, that, since “it is as it is,” and they aren’t such suckers as to believe it can be otherwise, and since they are winning more of what the other shrewd ones, as well as the righteous and innocent ones desire, they are successes. They are even refraining from murder, stealing, and rape. What’s not to like?

I am always listening to them, in hopes of upping my game — their strategic thinking is a tonic in the midst of my own and others’ incompetence and thinking that doesn’t lead to the desired results.

Besides, I like them, a lot of the time. They tell jokes, which are sometimes amusing, and they share useful information — who, around here, is a good mechanic of this or that sort, what is the price of this or that, how does the meat industry work, etc.

I like them as much as I like people trying to be conscientious, but who haven’t done the work of comprehending their or my situation realistically. The shrewd are more useful and interesting.

Of course, I remain on my guard — but I remain on my guard with people whose intentions are more noble, but whose thinking is mushier, and, therefore, dangerous — like quicksand.

I don’t intend to be one of the winners in a sea of losers, and to call that success. But I don’t intend to be a loser, finally — not if I can help it — as many losers encourage me to be, defining such losing as conscientious success.

That’s not success. Maybe it’s not wicked, but it’s a damn shame.

I’m not a success, but — I hope — I’m succeeding. You’ll know if and when I’ve succeeded. I’ll be grinning ear to ear, and the righteous and innocent will be winning, and the wicked will be getting their come-uppance.

As for kindness and understanding:

Some people are kindly, but don’t do the work of understanding the situation of humanity, their own situation, or the situations of the people toward whom they would do kindnesses. Therefore, their kindnesses don’t do good, but only complicate matters.

To be truly kind, it’s necessary to understand the situation of humanity, your own situation, and the situation of the person toward whom you’d do kindnesses. Understanding requires mental work.

It’s also necessary to develop useful capabilities.

Then you can do to others, as you wish others would do to you — if you will.

Correct me if I’m wrong, please.

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–Wrightstown Article #10 © Eric Chaet 2022, used in The Wrightstown (Wisconsin, USA) “Spirit” by permission. To use this article in another publication, email Eric Chaet at chaetsarticles at gmail dot com.