Redefining Success

Lately, I've been admiring the way so many are redefining their idea of success. Maybe redefining isn't the right word. It's more like people are no longer allowing society to define their success. I love the TikTok videos of the generational battles. You know what I'm talking about? All the parts are played by one person. I love those... especially those related to work life experiences. Some ideas of work and success are truly toxic, but it's what we've been taught and what we believe to be the only way. There have always been outliers to this norm. Maybe social media exposes us to more of them and so now I feel empowered!

I try to speak life into my children. We gathered around the dinner table, as we do every night. Technology is not a welcomed dinner guest. I asked them what they thought being successful meant. They each took turns giving their opinions and thoughts. My children are ages 10, 10 and 9. They spouted off having a career, going to college, having a family, and then my son hit the nail on the head. He is 9 going on 40. He informed us being successful meant being happy. I replied, yes, and that is also something only you can define. What does being happy mean? Again, that is HIS definition of success. I want them to understand that their definition and their goals are not wrong. It's not that I don't want them to attend college, have a career and family. I only want that, if they want that for themselves. Well, except the college part. That will be another blog discussion for another day. I truly want them to find the path that best suits them.

If you didn't have to worry about money at all, what would you spend your time doing? How would you contribute to society? What makes you ultimately happy? I know everyone can't live on a tropical island taking pictures of the local vegetation and make 6 figures. And not everyone wants that life either. That is the beauty of choice! Today, I am redefining my personal idea of success. I'm budgeting today for a different tomorrow. I won't be able to just stop on this path I'm on now. That would be equivalent to diving off a moving train. Yea, I might survive, but at what cost? But, I am preparing for the next train station stop. When it comes, I am going to exit this ride and begin a new journey. I've already started packing up my items and cleaning out my cabin. Destination? My Happiness.