Ambition is defined as a strong desire to do or achieve something.
However, Ambition holds a different meaning for me.
I took up my first job when I was 20 years old. This was the year 2000. I had completed graduation and worked at Wipro-Net as a customer support executive. Does anyone remember ‘dial-up connections? It was the time when people were just getting introduced to the online world and I was up on my game being an early bird within the industry. This job ensured good salary too. I used to work during the day and studied during evenings. So, post work, I would go to college to study financial analysis.
You would assume that this was me being ambitious and focused. But not that was not the case.
As a matter of fact, I wasn’t a very ambitious child or for that matter equally ambitious teen. I was an average student in school, had few favourite subjects but never really was an ambitious girl who aimed to reach the stars. That made other people in my life make important decisions for me. They didn’t see me as a focused person. Perhaps, I lacked the vision to direct my life to successful outcomes. It was on the insistence of my mother that I took up studying commerce and did a computer course. Eventually, that helped me in securing this job.
I will not deny that this didn’t give me pleasure as I enjoyed earning at a very young age. This not only gave me the freedom but also made me financially independent. However, if I look back now I don’t think it gave me the happiness and satisfaction that blogging gives me.
What could be the reason?
Today I know. I chose to blog for myself. No one else made that choice. I made this choice for myself.
Now I am ambitious.
The significance of ‘Ambition’ is much larger in my life now, it just doesn’t mean a desire to be successful.
What are the parameters of success?
I didn’t understand the significance then, but I do now. Success for me is being a happy person. I might not have a high paying job or be a top paid blogger but I am successful in my own rights. The reason is that I am simply content with the things I do. So while the pursuit still exists, there is a limit to yearning for more.
38 years of this trudging journey I will soon be hitting my mid-life. Midlife is always associated with crises. But I may have a different perspective.
To me, midlife is about renewed energy and optimism.
It’s about nurturing an ambition that I will prove to be an ideal role model for my daughter.
It’s about a strong ambition to be a blogger who writes content which resonates with people.
When I started writing this very first blog post for the A to Z challenge I said a silent prayer. There have been numerous occasions in my life when I have dreamt something and not been able to stay motivated to accomplish those dreams.
So, attempting this challenge is a major confidence booster for me.
It is my ambition to successfully communicate to all the people who are approaching Midlife or are in their mid-life to enjoy every moment, live in the present and look forward to future with hope to be happy.
Sheryl Sandberg’s quote resonates with me the most right now at this stage of my life.
“We can each define ambition and progress for ourselves. The goal is to work toward a world where expectations are not set by the stereotypes that hold us back, but by our personal passion, talents and interests.”