Written in 2011, edited in 2023. Commentaries added while editing the post in 2023 are in Italics in Parenthesis.

The definition of success varies according to the context and situation. To some, getting through the exam may define success while for some others having both ends meet twice a day may define success. Some may feel successful when they win a certain girl’s heart while for some having a car or a house in Kathmandu may define success. Whatever the context, it is clear that being able to meet one’s objective is what we mean by success. Therefore, it’s no wonder that the definition of success keeps changing.

While I was in grade 10, I wanted to be SLC board first (called SEE these days), which I became and considered myself very successful. Even society also thought that I was successful, as the media wanted to interview me, people wanted to take photos with me, and so on. However, just 2 years later I realized that the success I attained in SLC was temporary and I had to get through the medical entrance to fulfill my dreams of being a doctor. I got through that with flying colors (first position on the first attempt at IOM) and everyone including myself considered me to be successful. But then again I had to get through medical school which was tough but I graduated standing first in the school; this again made me successful in everyone’s eyes. But then again, I had many miles to walk before I could make my dreams of being a medical oncologist true. I ended up becoming not just a medical oncologist, but renowned enough to be traveling around the world teaching other oncologists, doing media interviews, getting love from patients, and publishing several important papers in the field. I became a successful academician and researcher, too. I dreamed of being invited to organizations like ASCO and ESMO for invited talks and keynote speeches and chairing sessions. I hit those metrics as well. But am I successful? I now have other metrics in sight. Maybe getting promoted? Paying off the mortgage? Having enough to retire early? But even then, will that be enough? Is this success? Does success mean happiness? As you can see, our definition of success keeps changing because our priorities change from time to time. That’s why these benchmarks of success that we create for ourselves are ephemeral and transient. However, I do not want to downplay their importance. Hitting these benchmarks of success, although transitory, seems important in the short term.