SUCCESS and SIGNIFICANCE

When we think about SUCCESS, most people imagine numbers: money in the bank, properties owned, family created, and businesses built. But as I move deeper into each season of life, I realize it’s never about how much you earn. It’s about who you become and how far you can still go.

Many of those living in Pattaya, Thailand, are at the stage where money is no longer the ultimate goal. Some have retired early, others have stepped away from fast-paced careers, life, and surroundings. Others come to rebuild a new life. And yet, despite the comfort, others still find themselves asking the question: “What now?” “How can I fill my day with something worth living for without feeling bored?”

I’ve met incredible people who, even at 50, 60, and 70, are still searching for purpose. Not because they need to work, but because deep inside, they know life has more to offer than routine and rest. Others want to make themselves valuable while they are still very active.

A Life of Purpose

Living with purpose doesn’t always mean climbing corporate ladders or chasing wealth. Sometimes, it’s as simple as waking up excited to create something, to learn something, to inspire, or to make someone smile if not happy. It’s having a reason to move. A reason to grow. A reason to contribute. For me, that purpose has been shaped by a commitment to living a healthy, active lifestyle, lifelong learning, and personal development. And passing it to anyone I come across. I invest time in learning new things because it nourishes the soul. Whether it’s reading books, listening to podcasts, building a passion-driven business, playing the sports I love, working out, or engaging with communities, it gives my day structure and my heart meaning. Doing something I am passionate about while not forgetting fun. Achieving something greater not for recognition but for seeing how far I can stretch.

What You Do Becomes Who You Are

It’s not about staying busy. It’s about living with intention. Every project I take on, every conversation I start… All of it builds toward something bigger: becoming the best version of myself. Not perfect, just growing.

The more I challenge myself, the more I discover who I truly am. And the truth is, there’s no deadline to self-discovery. You can be 40, 55, or 70 and still evolve, still create impact, still live meaningfully. I thought too I could retire at 50. Past it now, and it feels like life is just getting started or re-started. I want to become bigger than my purpose.

A Gentle Reminder

To my fellow expats, to women building a new chapter, to anyone going through transition — this is your reminder: You are not too late. You are not too early. You are right on time. Don’t live simply to get by. Live to be fulfilled. Live to be moved. Find something that gives you purpose. Something to get better at. Something to wake up for.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about what you have. It’s about who you’ve become. As John Maxwell quoted: Success is defined as adding value to yourself. But significance is when you add value to others. Let me end by asking you, how significant has your life become?