Redefining Success on Your Own Terms — Beyond Society’s Expectations
Why It’s Okay to Embrace Non-Traditional Success
I’ve ridden the roller coaster of highs and lows, feeling like a champion one day and a complete failure the next, all because I measured my worth against a yardstick created by society, not by me.
I needed to redefine what success means, making it a personal journey rather than a universal blueprint.
The Traditional Blueprint
Growing up, I was spoon-fed the same recipe for success as everyone else in my circle. Good grades led to a good college, which would inevitably land a good job, followed by the whole nine yards of societal milestones.
I have a VCR tape of my dad putting his glasses on my 3-month old little face, saying,
‘Who’s going to be a doctor? Who’s going to be the smartest 16 year old at Harvard? Maybe you’ll be a chemist!’
Well, I’m not a doctor, thank God, and I’m not a chemist. I’m a freelance writer, foster-parent, wife, college grad with two useless degrees — and I’m happy. I’m not a millionaire…
