Which Wall the Ladder of Success?

There was a parade of geese at Mary Lake yesterday. I imagine there are a number of goose and duck eggs hidden the reeds at the lake’s edge that will bring forth an abundance of goslings and ducklings in a few weeks. But for now, the ducks and geese wander about a certain area trying to look nonchalant while, I’m sure, they are keeping a protective eye on their nests.

There are probably around 30 or so geese, large and beautiful Canada Goose, at the lake and they’ve taken up position on the eastern shore where the reeds and shallows are more abundant. While walking Dixie around the lake, we were on the concrete path and to our left was about 40 feet or so of grass and a marshy soil leading to the reeds and rippling water of the lake. To the right of us was the manicured section of Mary Lake Park and a picnic table and then Lakeside Drive about 100 feet or so away. As we approached the wandering geese, we stopped as there were about 10 geese directly in front of us on the path. One of them looked directly at us as if to challenge our right to be there. So, we stopped and Dixie sat down (I think she was getting tired) and had a stare down. I certainly was in no hurry – a fine, cool, and cloudy morning – and I wanted to let the geese and ducks just do their own thing as I enjoyed watching them.

The big goose apparently decided Dixie and I weren’t a threat and since she (or he?) won the first-one-who-blinks-loses contest, took off toward Lakeside Drive with the rest of the geese lining up in perfect straight line and dutifully followed the leader. We watched them march off and just before the sidewalk by the road, the lead goose turned a nice and crisp column right and the other geese followed directly behind. Now that the path was clear, Dixie and I headed on and the parade of geese went on their way.

The encounter was blissful and I was feeling quite serene as we continued our walk. The ancient work-ethic (Puritans? Calvinists?) of our culture slowly bubbled up and I began thinking of working and “success” as opposed to walking blissfully around the lake. Certainly, something as non-productive (in the materialistic and capitalist sense) as walking a dog around the lake is not considered as contributory or communally beneficial as working hard everyday at a career. So, I wondered, what should I make of leaving a steady guv’mint job for part-time teaching and full-time writing? Doesn’t the American work-ethic require me to climb the ladder of success…at least the ladder of success as defined by others? Ah, yes, there is the distinction and the solution.

We are often told that to climb the “ladder of success” we must diligently make a plan, stick to it, and persevere regardless of the obstacles until we reach our goal. But, what if that goal was something a teenager or 20-year old would define for you? Would you spend a lifetime following the plans/goals of a teenager? Probably not! Yet that is what we do when we determine what our goals are, or should be at a young age: wealth, prestige, the accoutrements of success. If that is all true, why are there so many unhappy people who are suffering and feeling they are living Thoreau’s classic “most men lead lives of quiet desperation, and go to the grave with the song still in them.” Why not break free and sing before it is too late?

I believe it comes back to the work-ethic-expectation of our culture rather than choosing to follow the quiet voice and seek the fulfillment of our heart and soul. I, too, fell under the thrall of “climb the ladder of success” and “don’t change horses in the middle of the stream” mantras. After all, I had charted a course, went to school, and engaged on a path and career ladder. When I discovered I was growing stagnant and desiccated, I thought I couldn’t change as I needed to stick-to-it!

However, sanity came to me, as it often does, through reading and then through walking to let the ideas germinate. I came across two quotes or phrases that hit me hard and opened my eyes. One was from Louis L’Amour, one of my favorite writers. It was a simple declaration, but it shattered the decades long ‘don’t change horses” (change careers, outlooks, etc.) aphorism: “It’s okay to change horses in the middle of the stream if the one you’re on is dying.” The other quote, I don’t recall the source, was equally succinct: “If you’re climbing the ladder of success, make sure it is leaning against the right wall.” Ah, yes. Both stunned me – okay, I’m a little slow on the self-analysis uptake sometimes! – but the meaning behind them resonated deeply with me.

Far too often we stick with the known and the comfortable rather than striking out to the unknown territories where our hearts know, at a deep level, we need to explore. So the decades of my living an ‘expected’ life began to shift toward a heart-felt opening of changing to where I resonate (one of my favorite words) to who I really am: a writer and university professor.

As I continued around Mary Lake and watching the wildlife and the scudding clouds, I realized that it is vital to re-evaluate which wall the ladder of success is leaning against and change walls when and where appropriate. Also, if the horse (or career) is dying underneath you, it is perfectly fine – in fact, critically necessary! – to change horses (careers). Finally, to conclude my trifecta of career change rationales - “most men lead lives of quiet desperation, and go to the grave with the song still in them.” – the path was clear and true. While I honor the teenager-envisioned career path, it is now necessary to bow gently to it, and then move forward with fresh eyes and an open heart…

Namaste’.