You always thought it was
Attention, money,
Financial stability.
A solid job,
Whether you like the work or not.

I thought it was good friends,
Love, happiness,
Feeling safe,
Doing what you're passionate about,
No matter what.

It turns out I've become successful
In the way you always thought
Success was meant to be.

I have money coming in,
A secure job (that I like),
I'm making a lot of this money stuff too
People are liking my writing,
Even if most of it is about my disgust with you.

And I'm pretty close
To being my definition of successful.
I'm not in love,
But maybe one day.
I'm happy most days.
I have friends and family
That love me more than you ever did.

I hope you're doing well.
Just know that I'm doing better.

Life isn't a competition,
But I'm still winning.

I feel sick and empty right now,
But that's my anxiety from the rain.
As it pours down,
I realize that I'm so much better off now
Than I ever was when you held my hand,
When I could say you were part of me.

You're so much like you're father, from what I've been told.
Your biological one.
Everyone used to say that I was so much like your mother.
That's probably why we didn't work.

And I'm happier this way,
Because I'd rather be alone for awhile
Than be with someone that
Lies consistently
About everything.

The definition of success
Isn't money.
And it isn't love, either.

It's enjoying your short time here on Earth
Without letting toxic entities
Get to you.

I didn't do too hot a job at that before,
But I'm doing better now.