From Pumpkin to Carriage: Finding Joy in the Journey

This week, a water bill landed in our inbox with a balance due that could probably fund a small island. A 40% increase! Just like that. The latest surprise in a season already heavy with rising costs.

Like many families, we have been intentional with our spending. Practicing restraint. Making thoughtful choices. But even the most careful planning cannot always outpace the tide of inflation. It can be exhausting. And I know we are not alone in feeling it.

In the middle of my frustration, I opened an old task list on my phone. It was from last year; filled with home renovation goals, publishing Compass Star, and notes about our daughter’s school applications.

I paused.
We have actually accomplished so much.
But I had not given myself any credit for our progress.
I’d been so focused on what was left to do – I had forgotten to honour and be grateful for what we have already accomplished.

That is when the image of Cinderella popped into my mind.

You know the moment, when the clock strikes midnight and the magic fades. One minute she’s in a golden carriage, swept up in the dream. The next, she’s back in her everyday clothes, pumpkin in tow.

That’s how financial progress can feel.
We glimpse the dream: freedom, beauty, ease.
And then reality snaps us back.
The bill arrives. The market dips. The magic feels like it’s gone.

But here is the truth:
The magic was never the carriage.
The magic was her.
And it’s you, too.

You are the one who transforms the pumpkin into the carriage.
Through daily effort.
Through slow steps.
Through imperfect progress.

Setbacks, especially the ones out of your control, do not erase your efforts. They do not define your worth. They are just part of the journey.

Wealth does not have a finish line.
There’s no moment where we throw our arms up and say, “I’ve made it! Everything is perfect now.”
The goalposts move. Economies shift. Circumstances change. Desires evolve.
And just when you summit one mountain, another appears on the horizon.

That’s why your vision matters more than ever.
Your Compass Star anchors you in what truly matters.
For me, it’s writing and helping people build wealth.
For you, it might be creating, parenting, building, serving – or something else entirely.

When your vision is clear, your financial plan becomes a map, not a maze.
It guides your decisions not with pressure, but with purpose.
And the journey to financial independence starts to feel joyful again.

We need less anxiety about money and more tools to enhance our quality of life.
That’s why I write.
That’s why I created the Compass Star framework.
Because your version of wealth is yours alone.
And you can reach it – despite any setbacks, despite the economy, despite the noise.

So if you are feeling behind, burnt out, or like your carriage has turned back into a pumpkin – pause.
Look at how far you’ve come.
Celebrate your wins and your learnings.
Reconnect with your vision.
Let your Compass Star guide you forward.

Because the joy is not just at the ball.
It’s in the journey.
The journey to the ball.
The journey home.
And every step in between.

What is your “pumpkin moment”?
The one that reminds you how far you’ve come—even when things feel messy or uncertain.

Disclaimer: This article if for educational purposes only and is not personal financial advice.