If you pay attention to Social Media, success is defined in mostly tangible things.  A corner office, a luxury car, a big house or a large bank account, and to be fair, I like the all of those things as well. I also measure success with a different ruler, a smaller one.  For me, success has levels and it surrounds me on a daily basis. 

One morning while having a conversation with a friend (a rather charming, strikingly handsome friend I might add) the subject of success came up, and I asked him how it felt to be successful. He looked at me as if I had just lapsed into speaking some unknown language. Obviously he didn't see himself that way. After assuring him that I was not shining him on, I went on to explain what I meant. And by the way, I couldn't shine him on even if I'd tried. I am very bad at the whole 'come-hither' thing, I can't pull it off.  I'm awkward and when it comes to men I'm either sweet or savage, but that's a story for a different day. 

Anyway, I explained to my friend that at very young age he'd managed to not only start but run a vehicle restoration business on his own.  He fully supported himself and had enough time to dedicate toward several community outreach projects.  How is that anything but success? He was quiet for a few moments while he tried to wrap his brain around it all and I knew that I'd just given him his first 'A-Ha' moment. Too bad I wasn't smart enough to use that opportunity to get him to fall head over heels in love with me (heavy sigh).   

In all seriousness, if I were to create an Instagram page dedicated to what success looked like to me you'd see pictures of me having cocktails with the girls, eating gummy bears with my nephew, watching old movies with my Mom and laughing until I cried while having conversations with friends. The fact that my life affords me the opportunity to enjoy all of those experiences is success to me. Does that mean I don't have dreams and plans? Is my life perfect? No, and absolutely not. 

I believe success comes in many forms and it is important that I enjoy even the small measures of success while working toward bigger ones.  I'd like to live in Europe one day and I'm working hard toward making that happen. In the mean time I am enjoying the success that is my sweet little studio in the city. There was a time when I didn't think I'd be living the life I'm leading, I've come a very long way.  

A few months ago I was telling another friend about the time I visited my parents and forgotten to bring a toothbrush.  I casually mentioned to my Mom that I'd have to run to the store to get one and she took me to the linen closet.  It was fully stocked with a wide array of toiletries, everything from multiple toothbrushes, to an assortment of toothpaste, lotions, body washes, dental floss, etc. It was like I'd checked into a Marriott. This was not how the linen closet looked when I was growing up.

We were a family of five.  My parents, myself and 2 brothers who NEVER stopped eating or growing.  We lived in a rural area that was not always kind to people of color, yet my parents made sure we were all fed, watered, clothed (and cute!).  We hadn't lacked a single necessity growing up. Seeing that abundantly stocked linen closet made me realize that my parents had been successful all along. I remembered going out to eat as a family, getting new clothes for special occasions or sometimes just because. We had more than a lot of people in our neighborhood.  I know it wasn't always easy for them to meet all the financial obligations every month, but they did.

That sweet set up in their closet brought it all home to me and changed the way I looked at the meaning of success. I used to think that being successful meant never having to think or worry about money, but that day I learned to appreciate success in small measures.  Now I have my own fully stocked linen closet and every time I reach for a roll of deodorant or a new toothbrush I smile and take a minute to enjoy my success.