What is Success

Chris asked me yesterday how I define success or "What is success to you?"

This was during dinner yesterday (we were eating out) at a local restaurant after a long day of dress fittings.

I said to him, "Well, when I was in university, I thought success meant being the best in what you do."  Meaning, I wanted to be this iron-lady-career-woman-crazy-work-addict who can do everything (work wise) and dominate everyone in the office.

But I said, "Because I had the chance to do that, really, when I moved to this city, I was single, I was carefree, had very little responsibilities, I could really just focus on work and work my way up.....

Since it was really within my grasp, I realize that it's not what I want for myself after all.  I didn't want to continue down that path anymore because I could see exactly where and how I would end up. 

Exactly like that bit-ach down the corner office - in her crazy little world where everybody runs away from her.  And I don't want that as my future.  That's not how I want to end up."

Chris: "So what do you want?"

"I totally understand that we need to work, have a good work ethic, I totally get that.  But I don't want work to dominate my life.  My life is not just work.  I do not = Career.

Success to me is when I don't need to suffer at work and I am still able to afford all the things I need.  I'm not saying I want a life of luxury - NO.  But what I am saying is that work does not intervene with my personal and family life.  I don't want to have to ever sacrifice one in order to fit into the other.

To be successful means, to me personally, that I don't ever need to make that choice. Ever."

 That's what I think.