I thought success meant a full calendar, a big title, and being the one everyone relied on.

It looked impressive from the outside but inside, it was exhausting.

Here’s what I’ve learned about letting go of that definition and creating a version of success that actually feels like thriving.

I stopped chasing work-life balance and started asking a better question: What actually fits this chapter of my life?

The answer changed everything.

You don't need to win at perfect. You need rhythms that support what matters most, even if that means letting the dishes wait so you can choose rest over productivity.

After stepping away from a decades-long career and parenting full-time teens, I found myself in the hallway—not the before, not quite the after. Just… the in-between.

In this reflection, I share what it looks like to pause, let go, and begin becoming someone new. If you're navigating your own in-between season, this one's for you.