My Life, No Rules

I am an ordinary girl, I thought so till the time I discovered the real "me" with time. I don't feel ashamed when it comes to accepting that I have always been an average scoring girl in academics while in school and college. I loved studying but never worked hard to score the highest. I wondered at times looking at my other classmates who would stand first and second in the class, and I would usually share the happiness that I passed with good marks.

I grew up following no rules because success to me meant a good night's sleep and peace of mind at the end of the day. I often felt I was the odd one out - everyone around me had stories of achievements like getting promotions, salary hikes, new job, new country, getting engaged at the right age. I thought I was missing out on something and my life wasn't perfect.

Then I would see people unmasking the real truths of their life - none of them are happy! They have money, they have cars, they bought a house, they have got a perfect partner but still not happy. I, on the other hand, is happy and in peace. I quit my job and it's been 6 years almost. I found my happiness at my home. I feel happy making memories with my family when everyone else

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is busy making money. People would usually make fun of me for not having a 9-5 job and I was someone who knew it was my choice to not have one. Some even said that I am a burden to my parents because I am not contributing financially to my family. My parents, I feel grateful to, gave me the freedom to choose my career. My happiness meant spending time with them, knowing that jobs and money are going to be there but not my parents.

A memory of an incident that keeps telling me I made the right choice in my life, was when I saw my friend who lost her mother. She moved to abroad for a better job opportunity and good perks, and she failed to see her mother for the last time when her mother dies. She became crazy to earn more money that she would usually compete with people around her. Within months she bought a new house and her stubbornness could be seen in her attitude. It took her hours to reach her family, by the time she was here her mother was no more. Success is never about how much money you earn, but how much you value relationships. Success is about how you treat others.

Give time to your family when you can, sometimes luxuries and comforts don't give happiness. Don't set rules!