When I was younger, I think I had a very different idea of what success meant. Like so many people, I thought it had something to do with having a good job, making enough money, owning nice things, and reaching certain milestones in life.

Funny how getting older changes your perspective.

At 62, I’ve come to realize that success isn’t necessarily about what’s sitting in your bank account, what you own, or how impressive your life looks to someone else.

To me, success is building a life that makes you genuinely happy.

And I think that’s something we sometimes lose sight of.

We spend so much of our younger years trying to get somewhere. We’re busy working, raising families, paying bills, meeting expectations, and worrying about what comes next. Somewhere in all that rushing around, we can forget to ask ourselves a pretty important question. Am I actually happy with the life I’m living?

I’ve had my share of ups and downs. I’ve made mistakes, taken wrong turns, started over, and learned some lessons the hard way. There have been times when life didn’t turn out anything like I’d imagined. But looking back, I can see that even those difficult experiences helped shape the person I am today.

And you know what? I rather like who I’ve become.

These days, happiness means more to me than impressing anyone. I want to wake up in the morning and look forward to my day. I want to spend time with people who make me laugh, surround myself with love, enjoy my home, and appreciate the little things that make ordinary days special.

I want peace in my life, but I also want laughter, excitement, and something to look forward to.

That doesn’t mean every day has to be wonderful. Goodness knows life doesn’t work that way! There will always be worries, disappointments, and things beyond our control. Being happy doesn’t mean having a perfect life. It means creating one that feels right for you, even with all its imperfections.

I’ve also learned that what makes one person happy might not mean a thing to someone else. Some people dream of big houses, expensive cars, and fancy vacations. Others are perfectly content with a cozy home, a loving family, good friends, and a quiet Sunday morning.

Neither is wrong.

The important thing is that you’re living the life you want, rather than the one everyone else thinks you should have.

I think one of the greatest gifts that comes with getting older is realizing we don’t have to keep proving ourselves. We can stop comparing our lives to everyone else’s and start appreciating what we’ve built.

So, how do I define success?

It’s being able to look around at my life and feel happy with the person I am, the people I love, and the little world I’ve created for myself.

I still have dreams and goals, and I hope I always will. But I don’t need a bigger house, a fancy title, or someone else’s approval to feel successful.

If you’ve built a life that makes you happy, a life you enjoy waking up to every morning, then as far as I’m concerned, you’ve already succeeded.

And really, what more could we ask for?

With love

©️Suzy Bourget

suzybourgetauthor.ca