For a long time, I thought living well meant checking all the right boxes—building a successful career, achieving financial goals, staying busy, and constantly striving for the next milestone. But over the years, my definition of a well-lived life has changed dramatically. I think at first my definition of living well meant that I would live without any debt, be able to spend money on anything I like, and not have any worries. I think I was delusional. I realize now that living well doesn’t mean not facing challenges. It is having the grace and gratitude to realize that you can overcome challenges and learn something from them. Is it always easy? No, but that is part of the journey.
Living Well Means Protecting My Peace
These days, living well has less to do with accomplishment and more to do with how I feel when I wake up each morning. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that peace is priceless. Peace to me, means being able to complete my morning routine that keeps me grounded. It is peaceful knowing that I have a job that I get to do, kids that are safe and healthy, a partner that I adore and adores me, a home that is beautiful, comforting, and safe. I wasn’t always at peace though. It has taken me the journey of self-growth to discover how abundant I am in life, how grateful I truly am for all the blessings, and most importantly what boundaries I must put in place in order to protect my peace. Am I always successful in that? Nope, but I am a work in progress.
Living Well Means Being Present
Some of my favorite moments aren’t the big milestones that make it onto social media. They’re the quiet, ordinary moments that remind me how beautiful life can be when I’m fully present. Some of my favorite things during the day are writing my gratitude, mindlessly scrolling TikTok and sending them to my husband or my friend, talking to my friend Nancy every morning, laughing with my husband, talking about our days, reading, and just hanging out with the kids when they want to hang out with me. Am I always fully present for these activities? Honestly, no. My mind wonders or I get engrossed in something I like to do and don’t necessarily pay 100% attention especially if my name isn’t said before someone starts talking, but I am working on that.
Living Well Means Prioritizing Relationships
The older I get, the more I realize that the quality of our lives is deeply connected to the quality of our relationships. The people we share life with matter more than any achievement. I still have friends that I talk to that I met in elementary school or that I met when I was only 18. I have friends that I talk to that I met here in South Carolina after we moved and I have a friend I talk to daily that lives in Pennsylvania and confession time: she and I have never met. We were a part of a group of people who are like minded and met on TikTok! Yep, you heard that. These friendships are all so very different. My friend who I have known since 1st grade has seen me evolve from a 6 year old to an almost 40 year old, but one thing never waivers, we are always there for each other, whereas some of these other friendships have just become recent friendships and they only know me as who I am today. Now, I don’t just prioritize friendship. I prioritize my relationship with my husband and kids as well.I want them to know how much I love them, how much I will always be there for them, and honestly at the end of the day, they are the ones that matter the most to me.
Living Well Means Financial Freedom, Not Perfection
I still have financial goals and dreams, but my perspective on money has shifted. Living well isn’t about having everything; it’s about feeling secure, intentional, and aligned with my values. Yes, I still am working towards being debt free, but I also realize I don’t have to be debt free to live a fulfilling life. I can still have debt and work on my goals whilst experiencing joy, fun, and adventure. It is all a balancing act, which I am learning. I am learning to make wiser choices with money and I will say that it has allowed me to really focus on priorities, given me the ability to give more to others, and has allowed me to really see how abundant my life really is.
Living Well Means Growing Without Constantly Chasing
Personal growth will always be important to me, but I’ve learned that growth doesn’t have to come from constant hustle. Sometimes growth happens when we slow down enough to listen to ourselves. I do not always have to be “on” in order to grow. I have found that abundance and growth comes much more naturally when there are boundaries in place, expectations set, and when I am true to myself. I am constantly learning about different areas and how to improve upon my life. I read a lot and that helps me grow.
Living Well Means Taking Care of Myself
For years, I thought self-care was something I would get around to after everything else was done. Now I understand that caring for myself is part of caring for the people I love. I absolutely love a skin care routine. I am starting to learn how to take care of my body by joining the YMCA. I even signed up for my first group exercise class. It is pilates and I am nervous. I will be stepping out of my comfort zone here, but I am going to give it a try. What could it hurt? Well other than my ego and my muscles. However, I know it will be good for me to give it a try. Perhaps I will love it! Who knows? I also have made it a priority to take care of my mental health. I can’t be there for others if I can’t show up for myself. It is true and neither can you!
Conclusion: My Definition Will Continue to Evolve
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that living well isn’t a destination. It’s a practice. It’s a collection of choices, priorities, and moments that reflect what matters most in this season of life. My suggestion is be grateful for everything you have and everything there is to come. To quote Peter Pan (who happens to be my favorite), “To live will be an awfully big adventure,” so you might as well live well.
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