Success Redefined -- No One can take it Away from Me!

In 2002, the youngest of my three beautiful children and I each experienced two separate health scares that made me stop in mid-sprint. As a result, I felt compelled to create a written legacy for my children that would always be there to guide them in the event that I was not. My goal was to get my philosophy, experience and values down on paper.

I had learned firsthand how quickly other people or events can strip you of your salary, job title, street address, and all the other trappings of so-called success. I decided to redefine success so that no one could take it away from me.

The most important steps in achieving my goal were:
1. Self-sacrifice: Less sleep and temporary time out from the gym. I wrote when my children slept.
2. Accountability: Only to myself. I kept my project under wraps. As a single parent, I didn’t need the added burden of others' expectations.
3. Gentleness: With myself. I set no deadlines or schedules. This book was a gift for my children, and I wanted to enjoy the writing process as much as I enjoyed every pregnancy.

Not only did I complete my written legacy but much to my surprised delight, it was published in 2005 under the title Keep Your WITS About You: Work Smart, Be Happy, Feel Great.

Today, when I look at my book, my favorite page is the Dedication page, which reads, “To my three beautiful children, Elizabeth, Alex, and Christopher, with love from your happy mother.”

Michelle www.michellegall.com