It’s a Wonderful Life
Life has a peculiar way of unfolding – not in the neat, predictable patterns we envision, but in surprising twists and turns that somehow lead us exactly where we need to be. I had never envisioned my life would turn out this way. Then again, who does?
I remember being content, comfortable even, in that space where ambition meets complacency. I told myself I didn't want to be greedy, that wanting more was somehow wrong. But man, under all that comfortable BS was this nagging feeling that I was just... coasting. You know what's wild about getting too comfortable? You start forgetting that falling on your face isn't the end of the world. And for me the really scary part was that I was starting to convince myself that this was okay.
Here's the thing about life: you only get one chance to be you. In my case, there will only ever be one Charles Achampong. And my family probably realized that’s more then enough. But that realization hit me hard. Was I really willing to let this one precious opportunity be in vain? The journey hasn't been easy. Like most humans, I've doubted myself countless times, questioning whether I had the panache to keep moving forward, or to keep telling our story from the past year. Would anyone beyond my immediate circle care about the life lessons we've gathered along the way?
What I've learned is that optimism isn't just a mindset – it's a choice we make every day. I've made conscious decisions to strip away activities that don't make my soul sing, to distance myself from energy vampires and gravitate toward those who give me goosebumps and push me forward. I am all about curating not just my surroundings, but my entire life experience.
Over the past year, one of my greatest joys has been watching my children grow. There's something profound in those quiet moments of observation – whether they're playing or fighting – knowing that this phase, too, shall pass. Watching them and their friends mature, their confidence boundless, has been nothing short of magical.
I've wrestled with the privilege life has given me. The abundance of love and opportunity isn't something I take lightly. Everything I've accumulated over the years - the opportunities, my network, my experience - for me, it's too valuable to squander. That feels wrong. It’s like having a megaphone and choosing to whisper, you know? I feel this weight to use it for something bigger than myself. I believe we each have something within us that comes naturally, a gift that flows effortlessly. For me, it's sharing happiness, positivity, and the joy of writing. While the introvert in me would prefer to remain backstage, there's this wild extrovert yearning to shout from the rooftops that there's a different way to live.
My leadership and professional coach recently shared something that stuck with me: "Your ego is not your amigo." This simple phrase - I love it and I am going to use it everywhere - has become my north star when facing decisions or perceived slights, whether micro or macro, intentional or unintentional.
It's helped me find a deeper sense of contentment and peace.
2024 has blown past anything I could have imagined, and standing here now, I can feel something even bigger on the horizon. But you know what? It's not about the book I'm writing, or the fact that I travelled the world with my family, or even this new chapter I'm pursuing. What gets people excited - what I think makes them lean in when they hear our story - is that it shows them something simple but powerful: you can create your own path. One that doesn't look like anyone else's. One that might make others scratch their heads at first, but fits you perfectly. It's like giving people permission to color outside the lines of their own lives.
As we wind down for the holidays, I invite you to pause. Celebrate your journey around the sun. So many don't get this privilege. Take joy in your surroundings, in the simple fact of being. After all, it truly is a wonderful life.
