The Success of Others

Did I ever tell you about the time I played in the beautiful ballroom of our historic Government House? How about the time I went to the World Harp Congress in Sydney and jammed with one of my harp heroes? Oh, or that time I played one of my favourite concertos with our beloved Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. What about when I was on holiday in France, and a spur-of-the-moment audition led to studying harp at a French conservatoire.

No? Why is that?

Because I never did those things.

My students did.

We have chosen the following Bible verse as one of our house rules: “Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) This is a principle that’s not always easy to follow. For some of us it requires a daily fight against bitterness and self-focus.

Are you already practising your fake smile for the moment when your friend is the first one to get the literary agent, conceive the baby, get a new accessory on her ring finger, or lose the weight? This quote from Gore Vidal is famous for a reason: “Every time one of my friends succeeds, a little part of me dies.”

Each of the things I listed in the first paragraph were things I’d love to do. Some of them were things I’d planned on and was pretty close to achieving at one time.

But you know what? I can truthfully say it’s been just as gratifying watching my students – my friends – achieving them. Sometimes even more so.

Taking joy in the success of others isn’t easy, but it’s a decision you will never regret. You’ll have so many more occasions on which to rejoice.