Written By: Lauren Howard
I run three businesses.
I make a really good living.
I have two kids who I fought for for years.
We have a roof over our heads and the ability to pay our mortgage.
We are living the life right now that we dreamed of when we got married. We never thought that we would get here. We never thought that we would get away from paycheck-to-paycheck, worrying about keeping the lights on, considering every penny that went in and out.
We have come so insanely far and conquered so much.
And you know what?
It’s still effing hard.
Every day is effing hard.
We’re at the level of success that we never thought we would get to, and yet, it’s not easier.
It’s just a different hard.
That’s not a complaint. I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. I wouldn’t go back in time except to maybe savor the time to nap a little bit more. I love this hard. I would pick this hard every single day.
But at no point has it gotten easier.
I thought it would. I thought success would mean less stress, and it has been the opposite. I thought kids would mean so much endless dopamine and love that we would just glide through everything. HAH.
So if you’re striving for something because you think that’s going to unlock a deep breath and endless relaxation, then you’re reaching for the wrong thing.
You get the choose your hard as you grow, but that doesn’t make any of it easy.
It’s still effing hard.
But it’s so worth it.
Founder & CEO at elletwo