Peace and Love

“The Matthew Effect” from Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell challenges how one thinks of success; at least in the field of sports. Gladwell uses the example of hockey and how the sport has tradition of making the cutoff date January first- which gives the kids born in the winter the advantage of getting more and better training than the summer kids. One does not usually think that most successful people today have accomplished the things they have because of luck, or because they happened to be born earlier in the year. I guess babies born at the beginning of the year have a head start.. In sports. But doesn’t it all come down to what one thinks the definition of success is? I mean, isn’t it a bit sketchy thinking about a toddler (practically) choosing to play hockey. Isn’t it something their parents chose for them? And if so, how do you know that is what they actually want to do? Is it because they were raised into believing that hockey is what they were meant to do, but in reality no one would ever know if that particular winter child was actually in love with the idea of sewing or painting or acting for that matter? What is success? Does it mean fame, fortune and wining a lot of trophies or- yes I am actually going to write this (sorry America) is being happy what defines one’s success? Is it being content with a family and a garden and loving partner? Is the fame and the fortune and all the other things merely things that make one seem more powerful?  Alright, I am not saying that I wouldn’t like so one day win an Oscar and a Tony, and be in films where I can make money so that I can travel and get all my groceries at Whole Foods BUT I don’t know if that makes me a more successful person compared to a man or a woman who live on a small farm with a lot of kids who are happy? It would just make me richer and more famous.. But why do those things always equal success? Are all the hockey players born in January happy? And are the ones who were born in August actually spared from a life full of competition and stupid hockey dads? I completely think that Gladwell makes an excellent point, however the Matthew Effect hasn’t really influenced me ever, and I was born in August- Maybe it’s because I grew up in Denmark  J But I know a lot of people who were born later in the year who are a lot smarter than many people. It is super interesting to read about and it brings up some good points about luck. I definitely think where one comes from has a huge influence on what they do later in life- however, I also think people nowadays are obsessed with the notion of being better than everyone, with the notion of competition and wealth. More than ever do I see people in the United States stress over things like college and grades and sports and money, when in fact we forget to be good human beings and do what we truly love.