Read this for free here
In a world that constantly tells us to climb higher, chase bigger dreams, and measure success by career titles and financial milestones, I can’t help but wonder — what does making it truly mean to me? Is it about reaching some far-off destination, or is it something far more personal, something deeper?
I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out what “making it” really looks like, and for me, it isn’t tied to the shiny things or the busy schedule I once thought defined success. For me, making it might not even look the way it does for others. It’s not about running a big company, driving a luxury car, or having a packed calendar that screams “achievement.” No, it’s simpler than that.
I think for me, making it might be more about creating a family. It’s about breaking cycles, raising children in a way that I wish I had been raised. It’s about healing from the past, creating a future that’s different from what I grew up in. Maybe it’s about building a life that’s truly my own, something that I’m proud of, no matter how small it may seem to others.
I’ve watched people around me succeed in ways that don’t feel like my success. They’re moving abroad, they’re climbing ladders, they’re hitting benchmarks I haven’t reached yet. And for a while, I’d wonder if I was falling behind. But I’ve realized that maybe I’m not behind at all. Maybe I’m just on a different path, one that doesn’t look like everyone else’s — and that’s okay.
Making it, for me, might just be about finding peace and stability where I am right now. It’s about feeling like I’ve created a space that feels safe, fulfilling, and real. A place where I can grow, heal, and build the family and life I’ve always wanted. And yes, it might look different from the hustle culture or the bigger picture that society tells us to follow, but that doesn’t make it any less valid.
So, I’m learning to stop measuring myself against others. I’m learning that success is personal. It doesn’t need to match the world’s definition of what “making it” looks like. It’s about creating something that makes sense to me, that brings me peace, and that allows me to be the person I’ve always wanted to be. And in that, I think I’ve already made it.