winner, winner, champagne and caviar dinner?

GRATEFUL GIRL'S THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
We all know him or her. That guy or gal so driven to succeed financially; so focused on self; so completely fixated on "what's in it for me?" that they give little or no attention to anyone or anything else. You know, that person who would step on the neck of his/her own grandmother to get ahead in life. Sigh.

Determination, motivation and commitment to achieving or exceeding education, career and even monetary goals is admirable. Obsession with worldly possessions and amassing fortunes at any and all costs, on the other hand, is not only mercenary but also unhealthy. There is quite a fine line between ambition and greed.

While hard work and the desire to advance and prosper should be life goals for all of us; it is the definition of success which separates winners from gluttons. What does success mean to you? A big house? A fancy car? Lots of flashy bling? Or, maybe a healthy, happy and close-knit family unit. Only you know the answer.

If you are willing to sacrifice much of yourself but not at another's expense; if you are burning the candle at both ends but not bridges or colleagues; and if you put family first in your life and work a close second, you are going to be a smashing success ... in what matters most and across the board.

Mk 8:34—9:1 -Jesus said, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it ... Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this faithless and sinful generation,the Son of Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."