Make Happiness the Destination

There are seasons in life when everything slows down, not because you planned it, but because your spirit quality insists on it. As winter chill heads our way, I find myself looking back on the past ten years, not with heaviness, but with a new kind of tender clarity. So much has changed. So much has been lost. And yet, somehow, I’ve grown into a version of myself I never imagined. 

Losing my grandmother was the first shift. She was my grounding force, my soft place to land. When she passed, a piece of my foundation cracked. I didn’t understand then that this was the beginning of a long journey, one where grief would show up in waves, each one reshaping me in its own way. 

We All Grieve Stages of Our Lives 

Then came the other losses, the life we thought we were building that fell apart, the career that unfolded differently than promised, the friendships and family ties that loosened as I changed. These aren’t the kind of lessons you write on paper. They’re the quiet ones. The ones that live on your chest, in the back of your throat, and the unanswered questions you carry from place to place. 

But here’s the truth I can see now: Every loss has taught me something my spirit was ready to learn. Because the message that keeps rising for me, after all the moving, shifting, grieving, and rebuilding, is simple

Happiness is not a feeling that drops into your life. Happiness is a destination you choose, over and over again. Especially when life breaks your heart. 

This season, I want to start by honoring the three truths that the last ten years carved into me. 

Your Mind Is Your Garden, Guard with You Grow 

The stories you tell yourself become the soil your future grows from. 

Feel the Feelings, All the Way Through 

Sdtregthen isn’t in holding everything together, it’s in letting yourself break open. 

You Are the Turning Point 

You are the one who decides when your story shifts. 

As the seasons turn, winter shares its own kind of wisdom. It asks us to pause long enough to hear what our lives have been whispering all along,

What part of your own happiness are you ready to choose next?

Thank you for reading until the end, Ayerim 

About the Author

Ayerim Maduro is an award-winning destination marketer, speaker, and founder of HAMAK Hospitality Solutions.  A proud wife and mom of two young adults, Ayerim shares thoughtful reactions and actionable insights on her blog, Ayri Vibes, blending personal storytelling with professional expertise. She writes about life, purpose, travel, hospitality, entrepreneurship, and what it means to design a life you truly love. Her work weaves together her 20+ years in tourism, digital marketing, and community building authentically, making an impact from the heart.

Looking for a dynamic, soul-led speaker for your next event: Book Ayerim for speaking engagements on topics like positive tourism and purpose-driven leadership. Want to collaborate or learn more about how Ayerim supports destinations and businesses? Explore services with HAMAK Hospitality Solutions

Any views or opinions expressed in this blog are solely Ayerim’s own and do not represent the views or opinions of those people, institutions, or organizations that she may or may not be associated with in a professional or personal capacity unless explicitly stated.