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How Do You Want Your Life To Look In 5 Years?

Yesterday was my birthday, and I'm close to the mid-century mark, so it got me to reflecting on my life thus far. Seven years ago, a stranger asked me a very powerful question - if you keep doing what you're doing, how does your life look in five years? This very wise and good woman, who I didn't know at the time, unwittingly changed my life and ended up being a good friend and mentor. The answer was obvious - I would be sitting behind a desk, counting down the minutes and hours to the end of the day, to the end of the week, to the next vacation and to retirement. I would be asking a boss off for lunch time breaks with friends, for after-school activities with my kids, for vacation time with my family. And that is definitely not how I envisioned the life of my dreams.

Here's how I wanted my life to look - I wanted to wake up in the morning and have time to be with my children. I wanted time to work out and take care of my physical health, I wanted time to be with my kids after school and have family dinners, I wanted to have lots of annual vacation time, I wanted to have time with friends, I wanted to have the option to see my parents regularly, I wanted to feel fulfilled in my professional life and not stuck, and I wanted to be on the path to making money that would outlast my working life.

On my birthday, my daughter told me that one
of the things she loves about me is that
I walk her to school every day. Priceless!
So I took the chance and made a change and here's how my life looks now - I get up in the morning and walk my two princesses to school, my dog and my middle-school daughter. After that, I work out with an amazing group of moms. Then I connect with other incredible people throughout the day and help them look better, feel better and make more money. I also have time for lunches and coffees with friends. When the kids get home from school, I am there with them. We have family dinner most evenings, and I have time for myself and loved ones many week nights and weekends. Our family takes several vacations throughout the year, and I have the flexibility to spend weekends with my parents as well.

This weekend, I took my eldest on another college tour. I can hardly believe that my baby is getting ready for college and at the same time, I'm at peace about it because he is happy and I know that I accomplished what I envisioned for our family. I think back to how scared I was when I started my side hustle Mompreneur gig and am so grateful that I put myself way outside of my comfort zone because without having faced those fears head on, I would not be here today!

How about you? Are you ready to thank yourself in five years for something you start today? Life will pass you by no matter what, so why not try!

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