What makes you happy?

In nearly every interview, I ask candidates "what makes you happy?" 

This questions catches many of them off guard. They aren't prepared to answer it because many people haven't stopped in life to think about what truly makes us happy. I challenge you to think about this and jot down some things that make you really happy. 

I think about this often on my solo walks or drives. Now, I'm going to try to articulate it to see if it changes over the next few years. 

An equal life partner

I have always told myself that I want to be self-sustaining. The line of "I'm an independent woman who don't need no man (/or partner)" is something I joked around about. In reality, it's way more rewarding to have someone to share this journey called 'life' with. 

It didn't occur to me how important having someone who is an equal is. Equality in my view is when both in the partnership can:

• Engage in conversation that is stimulating for one another.

• Make intelligent financial decisions, together (e.g. money, investments, depreciating asset purchases).

• Discuss life plans with (e.g. kids, trips, insurance, health).

• Earn a relatively equal income, or contribute equitably per their income.

• Respect one another - emotionally, physically, and mentally.

A strong support system

With the tech environment booming, many often ask us why we don't go to the United States to build an even better or bigger career than we have now. The connections there would be unfathomable. Canada just doesn't compare. 

To be honest, we asked ourselves that very early on upon graduation too - multiple times. 

Over the last few years, we have come to realize that there are things in life that make us really happy. To be more specific, it's the PEOPLE around us. For us, it's our parents. 

To drive a few minutes to mom's place to have a home cooked meal is happiness like no other. To see our parents engage with baby Kian with pure smiles is priceless. To have dad come over and fix our broken staircase or rebuild our exhaust fan over the weekend is just mind blowing. 

Our time with parents is finite and I want to share more memories together with them. We may be able to earn a few bucks more in another part of the world but we would be giving up a well established support system. One that gives us an unfair advantage. We are extremely privileged to have the support of family at the level we have. It's what money cannot buy.

The freedom to choose

They say money cannot buy happiness. I disagree. 

Money can buy you freedom to CHOOSE with little to no stress. 

The freedom to choose is:

• To walk into a grocery store and choose whatever you want off the shelves because you don't have to worry about what the bill will come to when you checkout at the register.

• To order take out or order delivery any day of the week and any time of the day because you just feel like not making something on your own.

• To choose to live in a country or area that is free of war or unrest. 

• To open a map of the world and choose a country we want to go next. Yes, there are flights, food, and hotel costs - but that's part of the freedom to choose. 

• To fill up on gas any day of the week. Fill up until the pump hits the click because it's full. 

• To check out the latest baby gadget(s) to see if it offers the convenience as marketed on the packaging.

• To know that you can take off a few months from work. Even if you don't get paid, it's okay. 

• To turn up or down the heat as the weather permits. 

• To not worry about being evicted from your home because you own the house.

• To not owe anyone or any institution any money that you don't have plans to pay back.

• To be able to choose to workout in the garage gym, or cycle on the Peloton, or run outdoors, or take some other program. 

• To bring on a full-time caretaker to help you clean, cook, and watch the little one. 

• To have the option of picking where you should invest in next. Would it be better to put it in stock, real estate, retirement, or otherwise?

• ...the every day things that we don't even think about because you have the funds and the privilege to live with the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE.

All of that comes down to the fundamentals of having the privilege and the funds to have available choices for consideration. With all of this freedom, how can one NOT be happy?

Concluding Thoughts

My life is all about being a decent human being, keeping it simple, and having no regrets. I will continue to strive for my potential so I can thrive in this game of life. I'll admit, sometimes I take aspects of my life a little too seriously. At the end of the day, life is too short when those around us disappear before us. How might we make the best of it while we can?