Redefining Wealth: The One Question That Changed My Life
The other morning, while taking a walk - a walk that, I often forget, is not available to most - a joyful realization washed over me:
This is my version of wealthy. Not a lake house. Not a new car. This.
Slow morning coffees. Brunch dates with friends. Time to laugh and sweat at the gym. Long, quiet walks. These are the luxuries I enjoy and fiercely protect. These are the things that, for me, make life worth living.
I remember the exact moment I realized just how much they were worth.
I was sitting in a boardroom. Title and status in hand. A growing paycheck. Solid benefits. I was being prepped to be handed the keys to the castle. All I had to do was bide my time, endure the toxic culture, and keep playing the game.
Two hours into a four-hour meeting, the same problems circled like vultures. Bickering. Posturing. My body felt anxious, heavy, and tired. Then the conversation faded into background noise. It was almost out-of-body. I stared at the door handle, my insides screaming:
“Get up! Just get up and walk out. This is not living.”
That was the day I knew:
My wealth wasn’t waiting at the top of a ladder - it was outside on a prairie trail.
This is my version of wealthy. It comes from a deep inner knowing.
I don’t have a large portfolio. I don’t fly to Bali or drive a luxury SUV. But I do have autonomy. Time. The freedom to create. The bandwidth to connect. I know what I need from life to feel full. This is my bounty. This is my version of wealthy.
My wealth wasn’t waiting at the top of a ladder - it was outside on a prairie trail.
So let me ask you: What’s your wealthy?
Are you living your luxury life, or one that just looks luxurious to someone else?
Maybe it’s not checking your email after 5pm or being unreachable on weekends. Maybe it’s saying yes to a spontaneous road trip. Maybe it’s moving your body during the day, without feeling like everything will fall apart if you step away from your laptop.
Or maybe it’s flying first class, staying at luxury resorts, or caring for a beautifully manicured lawn. The point is…you do YOU.
Just make sure the life you’re living is one you’ve chosen. A life of intention created from an inner knowing, not fear or expectation.
That’s when we shift our energy. That’s when we start living from a powerful place.
That’s when we STRUT.
Want a moment to explore your own version of wealthy?
I’ve created a simple journal page you can download for free. No pressure. No strings attached. Just a quiet invitation to check in with the part of you that already knows.
Confidence (and the midlife you seek) is just a STRUT away.
💙 Anna
@strutwithanna | strutwithanna.com
PS - If this post resonated, forward it to someone else redefining what success looks like in midlife. Let’s walk (or STRUT) this trail together.





Love this, Anna! I have a quote by my desk that I have been rereading and thinking about a lot lately. I’m doing it because I choose it. And if it’s not working, I can make a change. Said by none other than fellow GenXer Alanis Morissette ✌️