It's the opposite of Schadenfreude, according to the coinage of David Baddiel in the Times of London in the fall of 2005: success-sadness, the feeling described by Gore Vidal when he wrote: "Whenever a friend of mine succeeds, a little something in me dies." Consider it a gift from me to those of you for whom such a concept would be useful. Come on; I know you're out there.
I can't be the only person who has one acquaintance by whose unremitting success I can always be kept humble no matter what I accomplish. In my case it's an old college friend who I'm not going to identify even by gender, although anyone who knew me in college will immediately know who I'm talking about since this person was clearly branded in gold on the forehead from the day said person was born. The person has everything he/she has ever wished for to my knowledge: a fulfilling career in the arts without the concomitant hassle of fame; a spouse and career partner of more than a decade's mellow vintage; a young child whose rearing will never curtail the aforesaid career in the arts due to the unparalleled free childcare provided by its grandmother; homeownership in quite an expensive area of a very expensive city.
Does it turn your stomach like it turns mine? It gets worse. Due to talent, diligence, confidence and intelligence, this horrible person deserves every bit of it. It makes me want to chew off my own ears.
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