Adapted from Nur Aizat's Multiply:
"I have a question tis time round..
How do we measure success?
Is it perhaps thru wealth or e achievements we have?
How do we measure happiness?
is it in e thngs we have, e no of children or e gd communication between us?
Has modernity and desire for wealth taken away our spirit of life?
Let me noe what u guys thnk."
I cant bear not to reply his entry. Still, i'm not an expert...just giving my twenty dollars(aint twenty cents no more..'economic is rising') worth of my opinion.
Can we measure success?
As lame as i can be.. gather all your measuring instrument..ruler-measuring tape-weighting scale-etc. But im not joking. Time (numerals..) will definitely tell.
Firstly, what does SUCCESS means?
Okay, there are many aspects of life that revolves around us. Ever heard of ..Life have its Up and Down?
When we are growing up, there are many stages that we have to go through. These stages are like hurdles. Some are either unnoticeable or you're looking forward to it. For example, u learn how to crawl, walk, run.. as a baby-toddler..u dont even realise what ur doin..(i tink) but ur parents acknowledge the success of u able to accomplish to carry ur butt up and run wif ur short,chubby legs. Then, as you grow older, u start to feel self-conscious about your body/appearance. Weight-height issues.. You probably begin to compare and maybe make small-big goals. Another success you might want to achieve. These are juz physical aspects.
Then there are Mental aspects. This is where kids were introduced to Meritocracy in Singapore. What’s meritocracy? It’s a system where people get and keep their jobs bcoz they do their work well. In other words, you have to go through a series of examinations juz so you can end up at the place you want. From here, you see urself as a failure or a success in terms of academic. The grades tell everything. Again…numerals..
Besides that, you may have other mental aspects such as relationship. Or your own desire. Whatever it is, you set a dream goal and try to achieve it. By how much? Numbers will tell. Even wrinkles on your face will tell. But that’s another story.
Hmm, I tink I steer his qns too far. Relating to his qns, Is Success being measure thru wealth or achievements we have? It depends. Depends on you, depends on others. Depends on the situation.
1st Example: Like the meritocracy I’ve mentioned, if u did very well, u get two things. Proud of yourself for achieving gd grades and as a reward, $$$! Bursary, scholarships..u name it. Thus, if you go for a job/sch interview, they look at ur achievements.. they don’t care if ur a spoilt brat rich person..unless u bribe them.
2nd Example: Businessman-Bill Gates.. He’s famous. Famous for being rich AND successful. Its two different things but interrelated. Firstly, what makes him successful? Bcoz of Microsoft isn’t it?! Secondly, what makes him rich? His profit earnings isn’t it?! Your qns is almost like.. ‘Do you go for fame or fortune?’
Bottomline, (from my point of view) when people see that ur a successful human being in terms of $$..these will naturally make them think that u have put much effort to achieve greatness. Okay..now ur qns make me confused. Goodness!
Let’s see if I can come out wif an equation of success.
Smart Brainiac+ Perseverance= Success
Success gives ---> Fame/Fortune $$
Fame/Fortune $$ means Success
Yet, if we simplified Success…you will get Smart brainiac+Perseverance(achievement)
How do we measure happiness?
Should I begin with what is Happiness? Nah..lets straight to the point. Y in the first place we want to measure it? That’s y in English..u have uncountable nouns which u have to use the word ‘Much’, ‘Few’, etc.
E.g: I am much happier today than yesterday.
Happiness itself is a noun. You can’t count them. hehe..
Is it in e thngs we have, e no of children or e gd communication between us?
When you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands aite! Its like asking..Can you buy love? Can you buy happiness? Short term..probably. But in the long run, of course not! There’s a lot of things that builds up our happiness. Be it grades, friends, food, family.. I cant fully say that having kids make you happy. What if u have a black sheep among them..will u be happy? There are no single thing/item/aspect that will totally lead you to forever happily ever after. (although Love might be...)
One thing for sure, appreciate the happiness you have. Coz you never know if that happiness will be taken away from you. Do your prayers, doa.. Once you show ur sincerity of ur appreciation to what Allah s.w.t have given to you..Insyallah, you wont feel much regret or be somber if fate turns back to you. I guess that answer to your last qns àHas modernity and desire for wealth taken away our spirit of life?
Long entry indeed! Okay now i am satisfied. Better continue my school work. 
