Why I’m Still Planning to Be Happy
For a long time, I thought happiness was something you arrived at. Something waiting for me on the other side of achievement, the perfect relationship, financial security, the perfect body, the perfect plan, or the perfect moment. I thought happiness was a destination. Now I know it’s a practice. It’s something we choose over and over again, often in the smallest and most ordinary moments. That realization is the reason I created Planning To Be Happy. People sometimes ask me why I chose that name. After all, shouldn’t we already be happy?
Maybe.
But I think many of us spend our lives planning everything except our happiness. We plan careers. We plan vacations. We plan retirement. We plan dinner. Yet somehow we assume happiness will simply show up on its own. What if it doesn’t? What if happiness requires the same intention we give to everything else that matters? At this stage of my life, I understand that happiness isn’t about having everything figured out. In fact, I’m not sure anyone ever does.
I certainly don’t. I am still learning. Still growing. Still changing. Still becoming.
There was a time when I imagined life would become more predictable as I got older. Instead, I’ve discovered that every chapter brings new lessons, new challenges, and new opportunities to reinvent yourself. And honestly, I like that. In the last few years, I’ve launched a website, dropped a corporate career, started sharing snippets of my life online, explored new destinations, and discovered that reinvention doesn’t come with an expiration date. I still dream about places I want to visit. I still find joy in discovering the perfect lipstick color, a favorite fragrance, a perfectly packed suitcase, a quiet morning, a meaningful conversation, or a sunset that makes me stop what I’m doing. I still believe there are experiences waiting for me that I haven’t even imagined yet.
That’s what this space is about. It’s about documenting the pretty parts of my chaos. The beauty finds. The travels. The lessons. The mistakes. The victories. The reinventions. The moments that remind me that life isn’t over simply because we’ve reached a certain age. If anything, I believe this chapter may be one of the most interesting ones yet. Not because everything is perfect. But because I’ve finally stopped waiting for perfection before allowing myself to enjoy my life. I’ve learned that happiness isn’t found in some distant future version of ourselves. It’s found here. In the middle of ordinary days. In gratitude. In curiosity. In resilience.
So if you’re reading this, welcome.
Whether you’re starting over, starting fresh, or simply looking for a little more joy in your everyday life, I hope you’ll find something here that resonates with you. As for me, I’m still planning to be happy. Because if there’s one thing I know by now, it’s that happiness is worth pursuing intentionally, every single day. The best part of our story may still be ahead of us, and I plan to enjoy every part of finding out!
