A Life with Value

For eight years, I shlepped to and from the same job. It was a job, not a career. It had great benefits, a pension plan, a steady salary and no overtime. For a long time, I believed this was the dream every working mother wanted to fulfill. I had enough income to help financially support my family and very little at-work responsibility so when I kicked off at 4 o'clock each day, I could switch gears and be there for them 100%.

My husband and I would talk about what we wanted for our son. We have an education fund and we hope he will want to go to university in another 14 years. We encourage his dreams to visit animals and places around the world. We talk about how what we want most is for him to be fulfilled. But how can we teach him that when one of us is doing what we never want him to do - work solely for money and not with any passion.

I had this longing to create my own business where I could flex my creative muscles as well as sharpen my business acumen. My altruistic side interjected - I wanted my business to be more than just about fulfilling my needs; I wanted it to be a place to encourage and cheer on others. I attended a workshop that developed my idea to reach out to women and provide them with opportunities to write and support to build their own dreams, whatever they may be.

And then I took the leap. I decided that I wanted to be able to look in my son's eyes one day and said "I took a risk and it paid off! I didn't wait for life to happen - I lived it!" I quit my job and started telling people "I'm going to be a publisher".

Here I am, living my dream. Some days it's a fantasy and others, it is a total nightmare. I am certain I am in way over my head, but I keep kicking and paddling because I believe that this is where I belong. This is the right place for me.

In the morning, my son asks "are you going to work today?", and I answer with an enthusiastic "Yes!" and he smiles and hugs me and says "Awww, that's nice mom. It makes you happy."

Lesson complete.