Wow... there are some amazing stories and interesting ideas out there....

I have had to change my perspective since my illness capsized my life. For so long after I felt like a complete failure. I thought that every time some one looked at me or asked what I was doing, they were thinking LOSER...

Then I began to see how much more there was to life than living up to societies expectations... I feel successful because I have survived my illness... I see value in relationships, love, helping others, raising children (hopefully!)... all the things that our society does not value. I want to spend the rest of my life doing something that impacts on other people's lives, I just don't know what yet...
I am friends with a lot of people that are "successful" by societies standards, I see their pretty houses and cars and overseas trips, but I'm OK with it... and they don't mind that we don't have all those things (which is a big surprise...)
I have a roof over my head, a car that works, a husband (and a dog) who love me - I am lucky