"Not That Long Ago, This Was All I Ever Wanted."

It was 4:00 AM. Our month-old baby had been crying nonstop, and no matter what my wife and I tried—feeding, rocking, burping, white noise—nothing worked.

We were exhausted. Frustrated. At a loss.

Our thoughts started spiraling:
Are we doing something wrong? Will it always be like this? Can we really do this?

But then morning came, and a surprising realization came over me.

Not that long ago, this was all I ever wanted.

I remembered myself from just a few years back – the one who desperately hoped for a positive pregnancy test every month, who dreamed of holding our baby for the first time, and who quietly wondered if that dream would ever come true.

That version of me would have gladly traded places with the tired, bleary-eyed version of me now.

Suddenly, the crying didn’t feel so overwhelming. It felt precious.

Because the truth had settled in:
I already have everything I need to be happy.

The High-Achiever’s Trap

If you're reading this, chances are you’re a high achiever like me. You’re always chasing the next goal, promotion, and milestone.

And that’s not a bad thing.

But here’s the trap:
When you only look ahead, it’s easy to forget how far you’ve come.

When was the last time you paused to look backward?

Seriously—try it now.

• Maybe you’ve overcome significant challenges.
• Maybe your income is higher than it’s ever been.
• Maybe you live in a better home, in a city you once dreamed of.
• Maybe you’ve started a family, found a partner, or made deep friendships.

Now imagine the you from 1, 5, or 10 years ago looking at your current life. What would they say?

I bet they'd be amazed! Proud. Maybe even envious of everything you’ve built.

You Already Have Enough

There’s a quote I love that captures this perfectly:

"Much of the unhappiness in the world comes from people not realizing they have enough, and that their life is already good."

We spend so much energy chasing the next thing that we miss the joy of what’s right in front of us.

We confuse happiness with more—more money, more status, more milestones—when in fact, happiness often comes from appreciating what we already have.

That 4 AM moment with our crying baby? It reminded me that the life I once desperately hoped for is the life I’m living right now.

A Gentle Reminder

Gratitude isn’t some gimmicky mental trick. It’s simply the act of remembering your journey—of looking back and recognizing just how far you’ve come.

Could your life be happier? Sure. We all have room to grow.

But don't forget to appreciate how far you've come.

And remember: you already have everything you need to be happy.