I remember when I created this piece, I had been married to Captain Awesome for almost four years, and suddenly, the proverbial clock started ticking. Yes, I had baby on the brain.

It’s funny, looking back, how being consciously aware of that "expiration date" completely shifted my thought process. Aside from my younger, more naïve days—when I was 18 and caught up in the idealism of love—I hadn’t really given much thought to having kids. But I had always left myself open to the possibility that the right person might change my mind. And for a while, he did.

I got caught up in the romance of it all, imagining what our children might look like, watching them grow, feeling the pride of one of life’s greatest accomplishments. But then I started questioning: Were these our true desires or simply the expectations society had ingrained in us? Was it the parade of Disney movies and Barbie’s perfect life with Ken that made me believe happiness came with 2.5 kids and a pet? Were we biologically wired for this, or had we just been conditioned to believe we were?

In the end, we decided to leave it up to fate—playing a bit of Russian roulette. If it happened, it was meant to be. If it didn’t, then it wasn’t. And as it turned out, it wasn’t.

Call me selfish, but I enjoy waking up on my own schedule (sometimes at 10 a.m. on weekends), leisurely sipping my morning coffee, and taking the dogs for a stroll. Evenings are filled with dinner plans over a glass of wine and cozying up for our latest Netflix addiction. My sense of accomplishment comes from my creative work and business ventures. And when the wind calls from another land, I can simply pack my bags for the next great adventure—perhaps Egypt this time.

What surprises me most is how often I meet couples who either couldn’t or consciously chose not to have children. There’s even a term for it—DINKs (Double Income, No Kids). These are the ones who stepped outside the norm, proving that a sense of purpose doesn’t have to come wrapped in diapers.

Of course, this path isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay too! Life isn’t one-size-fits-all, and we each navigate our own unique journey. After all, happiness is a landscape painted by the individual. Mine just happens to include the two of us, sans baby—plus dogs.