"Success" is a word that differs from person to person, just the same as the word "failure" does. The way you were raised, in my opinion, has a huge impact on the way you interpret these words. Whether it be a monetary gain or emotional gain, success and failure are different to everyone who experiences them; but what you do with each is completely up to you.

There are many people that have gone through trials that could have destroyed them and their outlook on life; mental abuse, physical abuse or even emotional abuse, but they took these things and used it to push forward, to redefine their definition of success. I asked a few people about what they define success as and these are some of the responses I received:

"Success would be doing something you love, not just making a lot of money but really loving what you do."
- Stefanie, 49.

"I would say success is being truly happy with everything around you. Working, friends, love life, etc.."
- Marti, 20.

"To me success is not about material wealth, it's about knowing that I am doing my best everyday not only for myself but for my family. It's knowing that as a parent I have given my children the tools they need to navigate the world and to be true to themselves. As a friend, to always be there and not to judge. As a wife, to stand by my husbands side and encourage him to follow his dreams knowing that I will always support him and be loyal. To myself, it's about looking in the mirror and being proud of who I am."
- Elena, 51.

"I would say success is achieving a desired accomplishment."
- Dominic, 23.

"It took me a long time to realize that there is no right or wrong answer to this, and that everyone has their own perception of what success and failures truly are. Success to me is being able to take a dream or goal for myself and turn it into a reality."
- Elizabeth, 24.

"When you go out and chose to become somebody in life and you obtain that goal, that's success. It's also being blessed by God that you have the ability to gift your children with a great education."
- Robert, 56.

My mother's best friend is a single mother who raised two beautiful boys to be the amazing men they are today. Not only did she raise these two boys on her own, but she raised them to be two respectful, caring, genuine men who would do anything for those they love. Throughout all the struggles she faced, she emerged even stronger than before. She is now an extremely talented photographer, a loving mother, a true friend, and an inspiration to those who look up to her. She defined success as:

"Having two boys with their heads on straight and trying to make their own paths in life."

Many people are unaware of the struggles my parents faced. After losing their first child, Matthew, to a heart defect at 6 months old, my mother gave birth to three other children and her and my father raised us as if they knew no loss. My mother gave up so much of herself in order for her children to prosper and never thought twice about it. She became a stay-at-home mother, and became a working-mother when needed. She gave up her life to take care of her sick parents and spent their last moments with them. She experienced so much loss, but positivity seemed to radiate off her despite all that. She defined success as:

"Raising your children to be amazing, happy people and seeing that goal achieved, knowing they are happy and blessed, and finding happiness in whatever you are doing. Success is where I am right now."

Failure, on the other hand, is always looked at as the opposite of success. Failure is often defined as not being able to obtain your goals due to taking the wrong path, or making the wrong decision, but people never seem to see the bright side of failure. Failure, in my opinion, is not necessarily taking the wrong path or making the wrong decision. Failure is not giving yourself the opportunity to succeed- to give up before you've even started. Here are what some people define as failure:

"Failure to me would be settling. If you're not happy in a job or relationship or anything in your life, you shouldn't settle. Letting fear or change stop you is failure."
- Stefanie, 49.

"Failure is being afraid to try."
-Rosie, 50.

"Failure is about not trying; giving up without giving it my all and not being true to myself."
- Elena, 51.

"Failure to me is when you don't try at all or don't try your best."
- Diane, 53.

"Not giving yourself the chance, to me, is the biggest failure."
- Elizabeth, 24.

Success to me is each and every one of the people I have mentioned in this article. Success is taking what you've been given and making the absolute best out of it, and finding happiness along the way. No matter if you're 23 or 53, happiness finds you in the strangest of ways. Success and failure are some of the most important things you will experience in your life. They will shape your perspective on life in so many different ways, but you chose whether to let them push you forward or pull you back.

"It's not our abilities that show us what we truly are, it's our choices."
- Albus Dumbledore.