Finding True Happiness Living with Passion and Purpose

As I as I turn a year older, I find myself not just reflecting on time passing – I’m reflecting on how I’m living my life.   Every birthday feels like a checkpoint, a moment to pause and ask: “Am I happy living with passion and purpose?  Am I building a life that truly brings me joy? This year, these questions feel even more urgent, pushing me to finally take the leaps I’ve always promised myself.

Turning 33 was one of the biggest leaps of faith I’ve ever taken. That was the year we packed up our lives in Aruba and moved overseas. We thought we had everything planned out. You know, a clear playbook for how things would go. But life had other plans. That playbook got tossed out the window fast as we navigated an immigration journey no one saw coming. What felt like our world flipping upside down at the time now in hindsight, a blessing in disguise. When you’re the one holding everything together, you don’t have the luxury to reflect on those blessings. You’re just trying to make it though, constantly in fight mode, doing whatever it takes to keep moving forward. Day in and day out, survival is the focus, because giving up was never an option in getting us through this overwhelming immigration journey.

For years, I was stuck in that survival mode. I know a lot of women can relate – constantly juggling, constantly putting out fires, constantly fighting to make sure everyone around you is okay. But at some point, you realize you can’t keep living that way. This past year, at 43, something shifted. It was a year of healing – the kind of deep emotional healing I didn’t even know I needed. And with healing comes growth. For the first time in years, I let go of the fight, and I allowed myself to breathe. To rest. To grow. To flow.

I’ll be honest, I’m stubborn. I like to do things by the book. I’m used to having control and following the “rules” of life. But this past year has taught me that sometimes, the old rules don’t’ apply anymore. Sometimes, you must throw out the playbook and write your own. That’s what growth looks like for me now – learning to trust myself more and be okay with not always knowing the next step. And it’s not easy, but it’s necessary.

Do More of What Brings You Joy

For so long, I measured success by the same standards most of us our taught: career milestones, financial stability, checking off the boxes of “doing it all”. But every year, I’ve come to realize that true success isn’t measured by all those things – it’s measured by the return on emotion. How much joy do you feel in your day-to-day life? How fulfilled are you when you put your head on that pillow at night?

It took me a while to understand this, but the older I get, the more I recognize that the most valuable currency we have is joy and time. For me, joy comes from meaningful connections, from using my skills in tourism and hospitality to create positive change in the world, and constantly learning and growing as a person. What brings you joy? What lights you up inside? Those are the questions I ask myself with every birthday that passes.

I know a lot of us – especially women- say we’ll do the things that bring us joy “someday”. But here’s the truth: someday never comes unless we make it happen. Life moves forward whether we’re ready or not, and the longer we wait to prioritize the things that make us feel alive, the more we risk letting our passion’s fade into the background. I’ve learned that with each year, we owe it to ourselves to make “someday” today.

Learning, Growing, Taking Risks: You Deserve It

Living with passion and purpose isn’t just about finding happiness in the moment – it’s about allowing yourself to grow. Every step we take is a seed planted for the future. But here’s the thing: you’ve got to water those seeds, nurture them, and be willing to take calculated risks along the way. We can’t grow without stepping out of our comfort zones. It’s scary, but we deserve the rewards that come from trusting ourselves and talking those leaps with faith.This year, and every year that follows, I’m choosing to embrace the things I’ve always wanted to do. Whether that’s pursing a new passion, deepening my work, or simply enjoying my loved ones, I am committed to living with passion and purose.  So, here’s to another year of learning, growing, and playing by our own rules. Here’s to living with purpose and measuring success by how we feel.So, as I turn a year older, I ask:

What about you? What’s holding you back from making your someday happen today?

Life is short, let’s live it fully and measure our lives in the happiness we create.

Thank you for reading until the end, Ayerim

Ayerim Maduro is an award-winning destination marketer, multi-passionate creative entrepreneur, proud wife, and working mom of young adults, pursuing her dreams and passion for writing by sharing thoughtful advice and positive inspiration for everyday life.  For more ABOUT ME or related content you will find on Ayri Vibes my blog. These are a series of writings on topics I’m passionate about.  Such as my specialty in travel, tourism, & hospitality and sharing my expertise in digital marketing.  I also write about life experiences, uncovering one’s passion and purpose, and our family’s unique lifestyle.    Any, and all views, or opinions, expressed in this blog, are solely my own and do not represent the views or opinions of those people, institutions, or organizations that I may or may not be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.