Reaching For The Stars: Redefining Success

Posted on January 23, 2025 Updated on January 26, 2025

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Writing has always been a part of me. As a child, I carried a pen and notebook everywhere, scribbling stories and poems. Becoming a published author was my lifelong dream. Like many dreams, I envisioned it with vivid clarity: a bestselling book, accolades, and the validation of success. But dreams, like life, have a way of shifting shape as we grow and evolve, adapting to our experiences, priorities, and the unexpected twists that shape who we are.

Read more: Reaching For The Stars: Redefining Success

The new year often brings resolutions: goals we set, habits we want to adopt, and bad patterns we aim to leave behind. Yet, it’s also a perfect time to reflect on how our aspirations progress. For me, years of writing taught me something profound: success rarely arrives in the exact form we expect. Sometimes, reality demands we recalibrate our vision—not to settle, but to see beauty in what we’ve achieved.

When we daydream, our goals can feel all-or-nothing. The perfect life might look like marrying a model, owning a million-dollar beachfront home, or landing a seven-figure book deal with Oprah singing our praises. But life isn’t black and white. It’s layered with shades of grey, and our goals live there too.

Love might not look like a Hollywood romance. Instead of the model partner, you marry someone with imperfections—a loyal spouse who folds the laundry without being asked, cooks so you can write, and cheers you on as your biggest supporter. That dream home might be more affordable but still perfect in its safety and charm. Your publishing aspirations might land you with a small press and an enthusiastic book podcaster instead of prime-time TV. And that weight loss goal? Maybe it’s not a drastic transformation but a steady, healthy ten-pound drop.

Dreaming big is essential, but perfectionism can be our worst enemy. The all-or-nothing mindset whispers that if we can’t have it all, it’s not worth having. That’s the trap. I used to have a detailed timeline for my dreams: own a home young, start a family early, publish books in my 20s or 30s. Reality had other plans.

I met my husband in my late 30s, had my first child at 38, and my second at 45. After five years with an agent and no book deal, I parted ways and reimagined my journey. At 48, after decades of writing, I signed my first contract with a small press. What started as a three-book deal grew into a six-book series—an incredible milestone for a “baby author.” As for homeownership in pricey California? At 48 and 50, my husband and I are celebrating a long-awaited milestone—building our very first home in Clovis, set to move in this August. While some might see buying your first home later in life as a failure, we decided to view it from a different perspective. It’s not about when you achieve your dreams but about appreciating the journey that brought you there.

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The Bottom Line

Dreams don’t have to look like a straight line or fit into a perfect mold. They can transform into something unplanned but equally beautiful. Sometimes, the timeline shifts. Sometimes, the destination changes. That doesn’t make the achievement any less valid.

It’s okay to start in one direction and end up somewhere unexpected. It’s okay to reach milestones later in life. It’s okay to adjust your goals to fit the person you’ve become. What matters is staying the course, being flexible, and refusing to give up.

Success doesn’t have to shout from the rooftops. Modesty isn’t a flaw. A modest dream realized is still a dream fulfilled. So, dream big. Shoot for the stars. But remember, landing somewhere in between can still be extraordinary. Keep pushing forward, keep dreaming, and take pride in every small step you take. Each step, no matter how small, is progress. It’s proof of your determination and a reminder that big achievements are built on a foundation of little victories.

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