To Settle or Not to Settle

The 10th floor up, sitting on your balcony in downtown Manhattan, where rent costs $3,500 for a 650 square foot, 1 bedroom apartment. Have you made it? Are you truly successful? Most women would say yes, as long as it's accompanied by several pairs of Jimmy Choo's, a mink coat or two, and an annual income of $250,000.

The first floor, sitting on a rug in the living room, in Santa Fe, cost of living is $150,000 for a 3 bedroom  house. Have you made it? With a a family of 4, an annual income of $40,000 and a half stained shirt from Marshalls. Which scenario would you adopt as successful and why?

Is it this outstanding image in our mind, that as American women we should have it all? The material success that's tattooed across our asses saying, "Juicy," the burberry printed tote, the Bulgari white diamond encrusted necklace that your husband bought you for your 5th anniversary. Is that what success has created? This divine image of perfection wrapped in cellophane as we trot along with our daughters dressed in Lilly Pulitzer baby shift dresses. It's become a fascinating topic for me this evening as  examine each of these scenarios and which seems more "successful." It's honestly hard for me to say that I wouldn't prefer the first scenario, as living in Manhattan, where the food is outstanding, the fashion prime, and the nightlife is never ending. Then I think to myself, would that buy me all of the success and happiness that building a family would? Never.

As women, we must truly dig inside ourselves and question what it is that we truly want? No, I'm not saying to you, the woman who chose the first scenario, you are a bitch, because you're not. Some women just have different priorities and as we move our ways into this world as becoming more powerful individuals, we will exercise our freedom in all senses. It's not like the typical man, who wants a woman who is going to surrender her liberty, is around anymore. A man wants a woman who is strong in her stance, knows what she is going after and accomplishes it. The standards for women have changed and ladies, I think it's best that we show this world a powerful, strong woman. 

As for tonight, I will keep pondering what it is that truly defines success, because at first, I thought it was anything that constitutes one's happiness. Now, I'm not quite sure.