We measure success in many ways. By the money we earn. By the titles we hold. By the possessions we accumulate. The temptation to chase those markers is frequent, amplified by the value society puts on status and the bombardment of ego-targeted messages we receive each day.
Success can, of course, be measured differently and I want to call attention to a metric unaccounted for by banks or Instagram.
My colleague, Omid Rejali, passed along a simple idea his grandfather taught him: that life should focus on collecting memories. It cost Omid nothing to share, yet the lesson has been invaluable to me. The more I thought about his words, the truer they became. When I picture the moments I treasure most — and the ones I still hope to create — each involves the people and causes I love.
Memories are rarely made as a passive observer. I don’t reflect on emails I could have skipped, social media posts I liked, or TV shows I watched, and think, “Man, those were the days!” It’s when I’m seeking experiences, engaged in the battle for justice, or giving my family undivided attention that I feel most alive. And it is from those moments that real memories are collected and a life is more fully made.
Looking ahead, I want to spend as much time as possible collecting memories — be it in a courtroom, around the dinner table, in far-off places, or our backyard. I want these moments and a collection of loving memories for my child, and many years from now, for her children.
And perhaps if I could be so lucky, I would love to impart this lesson on collecting memories to future grandkids with the hope they share it just as Omid did with me.
Kenneth Berger
Founding Attorney & Author
Kenneth “Kenny” Berger has dedicated his professional life to representing deserving human beings and their families in life-altering injury and wrongful death cases across South Carolina. Through consistent application of values such as honesty, hard work, and generosity, he has helped achieve noteworthy results while also earning the respect of clients, colleagues, and community.
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