For a long time, I thought happiness meant success—climbing the corporate ladder, gaining influence, proving my worth through promotions and power. I used to chase the idea that the more important I was at work, the more fulfilled I would feel. I measured my value in deadlines met, emails answered, and how many people looked to me for decisions.
But something shifted.
Maybe it was starting over with little kids again when ours were teens. Maybe it was time. Maybe it was the realization that no matter how high I climbed, my heart was being pulled somewhere else. Now, when I think about what would truly make me happy, it’s not the corner office or the impressive job title—it’s freedom.
Happiness, to me, would be not having to work at all—at least, not in the traditional sense. It would be the ability to stay home with my boys, to homeschool them, travel the world, and just be present. It would mean no longer splitting my energy between being the mom I want to be and the best employee. It would mean waking up each morning with the freedom to grow our own food, make meals from scratch, teach my children in a way that sparks curiosity, and learn how to slow down in a world that constantly tells us to speed up.
I used to chase external success. Now, I crave intentional living.
I want to raise my children without rushing through mornings to get to work. I want to take spontaneous road trips without worrying about PTO balances. I want to build a life where my time is my own, where the work I do is for my family and our home, not for a corporation that wouldn’t notice if I disappeared tomorrow.
Will I ever get there? I don’t know. But I do know that happiness, for me, isn’t about power or influence anymore. It’s about presence, peace, and purpose—and I’m determined to find my way to it.
What does happiness look like for you?
The Anker Homestead 