the best decision i've ever made

• Relationships

What’s the Best Decision You Ever Made?

Your answer will likely depend on how old you currently are..

Posted July 23, 2018

Wherever you are in your life today, when you think about what is important to your current happiness , what are the things that pop up at the top of the list? Developmentally, we tend to break our travels through adulthood into 5 discrete segments:

• Emerging Adulthood – when we begin trying to figure out who we are and where we are headed in life.
• Young Adulthood – that period when we are old enough to know how little we actually do know about life and still too young to fully recognize and handle all of the responsibilities that come with adulthood. We know that we need a job, stability, and to begin thinking about how we’re going to get there.
• Adulthood – these are those years when we begin to actually “look like” the adult in the room. Ideally, we have found a way to make a steady living, we have created the type of family that we believe we want, and we have begun to care more about being a part of the community and are likely worrying about raising children in a world that seems to be spinning out of control in ways that we might have once thought were “kinda’ cool,” but now perceive as “kinda’ scary.”
• Middle Adulthood – this is what most of us still probably think of as “the parents’ generation,” even if we’ve hit the “Big 4-0,” ourselves. Midlife is the “next act” to old age’s “third act.” This is when we begin to recognize that our lives really are going to be a finite product of our choices and behaviors over the years. In midlife, you realize that there may not be a “do over,” but that doesn’t mean that you are “done.”
• Older Adulthood – some consider these the “golden years,” or “the prime of life,” or use some other euphemism for the years from the late 60s to the end of life, but if we’re facing poverty, unaffordable medical needs, or food insecurity, these are as far from “golden” as anything could be. This is the time when older adults will take stock of their lives and, whether they consciously do it or not, assess their lifetime of choices and decisions to see if the outcome was what they expected or felt they deserved.

When is a Woman Happy She’s Made Up Her Mind?

In a recent research study, over 400 adult women were asked to share what they consider had been the “best decision” of their lives. The responses were reviewed and coded and it turns out that the “Big Decisions” of adulthood can pretty much be divided into 10 categories -- and here they are in order of frequency:

• Self-Development
• Pursuing an Education
• Motherhood (Choosing to become one or choosing not to)
• Career Development or Changes
• Beginning Romantic Relationship
• Ending Romantic Relationships
• Spiritual Development
• Geographical Relocation
• Family Relationships
• Social - Friendships

The percentage of women whose best decisions landed within a specific area varied across the lifespan. And not necessarily in ways that we might expect. This gives us insight into perhaps what we value in life and reflects what matters most as we age.

Finding Yourself is Still a Sought After Goal

For women up through their forties, decisions related to self-development were the most frequently noted. A third of the women in their twenties focused on this area; 26% of those in their 30s; and 17% of those in their 40s. Decisions made included such things as gaining stronger confidence , deciding to be less passive, refusing to let others make their choices for them, and so on. Education decisions were the most frequently mentioned decision for women in their 50s (18%) and their 60s (21%). These women were on the leading edge of women gaining more open access to higher education and the women’s rights movement was a part of their early cultural landscape. A greater percentage of women in this age group divorced without the same social stigma as the prior generation and also received cultural support for making career and lifestyle choices that were no longer dictated by their gender roles. It makes sense that education stands out as the key decision that helped them work towards their greatest potential.

Who’s Most Grateful they Broke Off a Relationship?

For women in their 70s, the number one decision determined as the “best decision” made by the largest number (33%) was Ending a Romantic Relationship. What this suggests is that for women in that age cohort, there was probably more opposition to ending marriages than there was in younger generations. It makes sense that a difficult and highly significant life choice would continue to hold – or even gain – value over time.

Motherhood: To Be or Not to Be a Mother?

Another pattern that emerged was the appearance of motherhood in the top of the lists for women in their 30s through the 60s. The majority of women noted that having children was their best decision, while a handful described their decision to NOT begin a family as their best decision. This is not a surprising finding, of course. However, it is might be interesting to know that the age groups most likely to count career choices as their best decision were those in their 30s, 40s, and those in their 60s. This might reflect a woman’s need to build a strong financial foundation in her most active career years and then to recognize in the 60s that good past financial choices make a significant different as older adulthood and finite economic resources become realities.

Is 50 the new 30?

Regarding significant romantic relationships, we might expect the beginning of relationships to show up at the top of the younger age cohorts, but it was halfway down the list for women in the forties and younger. Among the women in their 50s, it tied for the #2 most frequently noted decision along with motherhood and self-development. Overall, women in their 50s presented the greatest variety in the list of the top decisions made – and perhaps the old saying that “50 is the new 30” is true when it comes to diversity among individuals.

How to Make the Best Decision of your Life

Regardless of where you are in your life, you are going to be facing many opportunities to make decisions that may matter more later than they do at the moment. And know that any decision you make is going to be the “best” that you can at any given moment. To help you feel more in charge of your decision-making , here are some basic suggestions to guide you:

• Clearly assess exactly what your options are at the moment
• Determine if there really is a choice
• List the “pros and cons” of the options that you are most likely to take
• Make the choice that makes the most sense at that moment
• Accept that you have made the best decision that you possibly could at this time

Suzanne Degges-White, Ph.D. , is a licensed counselor and professor at Northern Illinois University.

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Stonemaier Games

The 10 Best and Worst Decisions I’ve Ever Made

• 26 January 2023
• 1,940 Views
• 41 Comments

Today’s post is a little more personal than professional (in fact, this started off as a post for my personal blog), but there’s still plenty of overlap into entrepreneurship and crowdfunding.

I turned 42 a few weeks ago. Ever since then, I’ve been reflecting on my life so far and how I’d like to use those experiences to grow, learn, and improve over the next 42 years (or however long I have). This started out as a list of mistakes and regrets–let’s face it, I’ve said and done plenty of dumb things over the years–but as I populated the list, I realized that there are more decisions that I’m happy with, particularly in terms of the impact on me and the people around me.

Best Decisions

• Communication commitment to my parents : When I headed off to college in 1999, for reasons I don’t entirely understand, my parents were worried they’d never hear from me again. So they made me promise to write or call once a week. College boy Jamey struggled with this at first, but forming this habit turned out to be one of the best things I’ve ever committed to, as it allowed my relationship with my parents to grow, evolve, and improve despite the distance between St. Louis and Virginia. My dad passed away around this time last year, and I’m so grateful for the hundreds of hours we spent continuing to get to know each other over the phone.
• Studying abroad : By far the best decision I made in college was to spend my entire junior year in Japan. Not a few weeks, not a few months, but the full academic year. I had studied Japanese since middle school, and I had an amazing time fully immersing myself in the wonderful world of Kyoto for those 9 months. I feel like it was the only time in my life where I felt the freedom to live someplace so different to where I was born and raised (not just visit or be a tourist), and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to do that in 2001.
• Getting a pet : Other than a few months with gerbils, I didn’t grow up with pets. I knew nothing about cats and dogs, and honestly, I was a little afraid of them because I never took the chance to understand them. Then I adopted Biddy as a kitten from a shelter in 2007, and having this little guy in my life for the last 16 years has been such an amazing blessing. I’ve really learned how to put someone else’s needs before my own as a result of raising Biddy (and eventually Walter too). Perhaps it’s trivial to put a pet on this list, but I’ve known for a while now that I don’t want kids, so this is the closest to fatherhood I’ll ever get, which is a big deal for me.
• Starting a business : In 2011 I became enamored with Kickstarter and the idea of creating something to share on that platform. It’s the type of thing I easily could have put on my “someday” list and never actually tried, but instead I committed to designing a game and making it happen. Along the way, I found a business partner (something I didn’t know I needed, but I did!), wrote a novel, and individually thanked all 942 people who backed the campaign–most of whom were complete strangers–who brought Viticulture to life. I’d always fancied the idea of entrepreneurship, and I’m really glad I took a chance at it, as I think one of the biggest barriers to doing anything is actually deciding to do it! It also helped me find my “why” of trying to bring joy and add value to others.
• Quitting Kickstarter : Right up there with my decision to try Kickstarter is my decision to stop relying on Kickstarter after we fulfilled the Scythe rewards in the summer of 2016. This had very little to do with Kickstarter itself and more about the impact of selling the promise of something many months before delivering on that promise. No matter the reason , I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Stonemaier Games has been far more successful at delivering joy to tabletops worldwide since quitting crowdfunding. Or maybe it is a coincidence! I don’t know. It’s also ironic that with the Nesting Box, we learned that there are some people who actually prefer to “set it and forget it” than waiting to buy a new product after it’s available at fulfillment centers.
• Publishing games I didn’t design : I designed the first few Stonemaier Games, but I soon realized that I would severely limit our potential to bring joy to tabletops worldwide if we only published my games. There are so many other designers who are talented in ways I can never even begin to approach myself. This actually started with Between Two Cities, My Little Scythe, and Between Two Castles, but I have to acknowledge that developing and publishing Wingspan by Elizabeth Hargrave is one of the most impactful decisions I’ve ever made (on me, Stonemaier Games, and millions of people around the world). I’m forever grateful that Elizabeth gave me the chance to work with her to turn Wingspan into the game it is today.
• The choice to floss and exercise every day : A long time ago I heard that people who don’t floss will someday lose all their teeth. Whether or not that’s accurate, it didn’t sound fun to me, so I committed to flossing every day, and I’ve done so for the last 23 years. Similarly, throughout most of my 30s, I spent a lot of time sitting at a desk, and instead of playing soccer or working out a few times a week as I had in my 20’s, sometimes weeks would past without any substantial physical activity. The impact on my body was incremental, so I didn’t really notice until, well, I noticed! A friend gently encouraged me to find a way to reincorporate 20 minutes of exercise into my daily routine. So I started taking a little break from my 12-hour work days to lift a few weights, focus on my core, and run up and down the stairs in my building. I also added a weekly activity out of the house (indoor rock climbing at first, then disc golf). This small change has had a hugely positive impact on my health and wellbeing.

Worst Decisions

As I mentioned at the beginning, I’ve made many bad decisions in my life, decisions that hurt me and others. The brevity of this part of the list is not intended to downplay those decisions or the harm they caused in any way. In fact, I tend to dwell on even the smallest bad decisions over the course of my life more than I reflect on the positive.

But when I look back at most of the decisions I most regret, I actually see a lot of good things that ended up emerging from them (and hopefully more to come). You may disagree, though I truly hope for anyone out there that your worst decision list is shorter than your best decision list.

• Signing a bad mortgage : When I was in my mid-20s, I bought a small condo (this was around 2006). I had a steady job making around $40k/year. When I was presented with the mortgage documents, the lender mentioned that there was a variable rate that could go up or down and that there was a prepayment penalty–they brushed over these elements (which are now viewed as predatory and a big reason for the recession of 2008) as if they were standard practice. I thought they sounded a little odd, and I should have called my dad to get his thoughts. But I didn’t. I signed the mortgage, and the financial implications over the next few years (surprise: the rates went up, not down) were really bad. I was fortunate to turn things around by eventually accepting the prepayment penalty and refinancing to a fixed-rate mortgage, but it took me years to break even.
• Not committing to a partner : I’ve always romanticized the idea of romance–I’m the type of person who cries in any romantic comedy when the main character realizes they’ve found their person. I don’t think this has had the healthiest impact on my romantic relationships, though, as I either (a) felt like something was missing if I wasn’t swept away by a girl or (b) if I was swept away by a girl, I felt like I was giving up on other creative pursuits (writing, game design, etc). It wasn’t until I was 38 that I realized that if someone (Megan) chose me, I could choose her too and continue to choose her every day.
• Any time I’ve ever acted out of anything but love, kindness, and compassion : This includes a lot of bad decisions within the same category, but it’s an important one to me, because these are the choices that eat at me the most. Why would I ever punch down when I could lift up (or not say anything at all)? Why would I ever exclude when I could include? Why would I spend my time and energy talking about what I dislike when I could share something I love? It’s when I’ve broken from these principles that I’ve felt the least like myself.

Does any of this resonate with you? What are a few of your best and worst decisions? I’m sure I’ve missed some big ones here–I may update this list over time.

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41 Comments on “ The 10 Best and Worst Decisions I’ve Ever Made ”

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Last year I purchased Wingspan Asia, then Libertalia (after playing it at the convention), then Expeditions Ironclad Ed. A couple of days ago I was given Fan Art Pack as a late NY gift. Great games, all of them shipped and delivered through I don’t know what. I don’t think your decision to cut your Russian audience off your product is made out of love, kindness, and compassion. Why would you ever punch down when you could lift up (or not say anything at all)? Why would you ever exclude when you could include?

Our decision to not contribute tax dollars to a military that is actively invading another country is very much made out of love, compassion, and empathy…for Ukraine. I also empathize with the people of Russia who do not support the effort to conquer Ukraine, and I greatly look forward to the opportunity to work with our Russian localization partners when Russia halts the invasion (and hopefully pays for the recovery costs for the damage they’ve done).

I’m not punching anyone, but sometimes we need to speak up for those who don’t have a voice, especially in situations of oppression and destruction like this. I very much wish there was a way to include people in Russia who don’t support the war. Are you among them? I appreciate your support of our products, which indirectly supports Ukraine, as we have continued to work with localization partners in Ukraine.

Thanks for highlighting this one again as I had missed it! Great read, especially the “whats your why” part and the bad decision on acting on not following compassion. These are really valuable reminders.

Love that you could, and would, share this with us. Appreciate what you do.

[…] The 10 Best and Worst Decisions I’ve Ever Made: This was probably the most helpful article for me to write this year, and I’m glad it resonated with others too. The list features 7 good decisions (like my commitment to consistent communication with my parents and my choice to study abroad in college) and 3 bad decisions (a bad mortgage, a lack of romantic commitment, and any time I’ve chose to act out of anything other than love, kindness, & compassion). Interestingly, the article may have gotten the most traction for a comment from a stranger who was 100% convinced that my disinterest in having children is a massive mistake. […]

Jamey, this list was helpful but also really got me a bit emotional. The mortgage decision I know was weirdly specific but I was in a similar boat. My husband and I bought at house in 2011 when we were only 23 and a lot of that was due to perceived pressure and not what we actually needed. We ended up having to sell 3 years later and didn’t quite break even. It bothered me for years and years and made me nervous to make any big decisions at all. Reading things like this is so assuring because I often assume people I look up to, like you, aren’t making these kinds of dumb mistakes and that’s why you are successful. I noticed quite a few leaps of faith in your best decisions list too – it’s good to be told again that at some point, we all have to make big decisions that could go wrong, and that’s usually the only way you meet your big goals in life.

Thanks for this blog. Your thoughts are very helpful to see written out. I’m proud to be a Champion and Ambassador here!

I appreciate you sharing this, Kendra, and I’m sorry you had such a rough experience with your first home ownership. I can definitely relate to that, and to be honest, I’ve made plenty of dumb mistakes–I just try really hard to learn from them, not repeat them, and share them so others can avoid the same mistakes. :) I hope you have better fortune with your next big decision!

This was a wonderful post. It paints a picture of you, and there’s a lot of virtues and strengths included here that explain why you got to be where you are. Wonderfully revelatory and insightful, thx:)

A remarkable post, Jamey. I have read so many of your blog posts over the last few months (trying to figure out KS and other related stuff), I have never been moved to leave a comment until today. As I sit here reading things that make me happy or excited because they are game related, your post made me stop and think of how lucky I am to have landed here – a place where my worst fears are about shipping costs and my dreams don’t have to include simply being safe, fed, and healthy. Your last note about acting out of love, kindness, and compassion really hit home – what possible reason would I have to act out of anything other than those? What possible reason would I have for wanting to make someone’s life harder, or to feel bad in any way? It is such a simple way to live life – make others’ lives easier, make others’ have a reason to feel good, to smile, to laugh. Thanks for the reminder to keep it all in perspective and simply share the joys in life with others.

Thanks so much for chiming in, Anthony. I absolutely resonate with what you said about love, kindness, and compassion. I think the human in me doesn’t always act the way I want–that’s the challenge. But it was helpful for me to write down what’s really important to me as a reminder, especially for those moments of weakness and vulnerability.

The last one really resonated with me. My ex-girlfriend always used to say that because of my kindness, i let people walk all over me. But i decided to prioritise kindness and it’s truly one of my core values. And I surround myself with people I know will not take advantage of that kindness. (And I dumped that girlfriend and found a girl who loves my kindness and then I married her and I will continue to be kind to her until the day we die (or until she breaks any of my boardgames) :p!

Tom: I really like this, particularly the combination of choosing kindness and choosing friends/partners who don’t take advantage of it.

I was waiting to read the board game you designed that you had the most conflicted feelings about.

I have a video kind of along those lines here: https://youtu.be/P3P70PrE8i4

Yep, definitely resonates.

One of my best decisions was marrying my wife. She helps me become a better person, and I try to do the same for her (which indirectly helps me to improve, as well). I also romanticized a lot of stuff, including romance, when I was young; but I’d personally rather have a real woman with real love over the *idea* of something any day.

Worst decision might have been not taking fitness seriously enough until mid-way through adulthood. I found out the hard way that for me, it’d have been easier to avoid losing fitness than it was to get it back. Count Rugen said, “If you haven’t got your health, then you haven’t got anything.” — which to me is one of the top 10 pieces of movie-quote wisdom ever.

Others’ mileage may differ, of course.

Thanks for sharing this, Chris–this resonates right back with me! :)

I just turned 40 last week and I’m myself trying to find the next chapter in my life and find ways to be around for it as well lol. I just got a new dog last year, a rescue pitball who has taught me just how unfair preconceptions can be. She is the kindest, gentlest, and smartest dog I’ve ever had. Fiercly loyal but not an aggressive bone in her body. I try to keep that in mind when I approach people or even situations. I’ve also experimented with so many things in my life to try and find my passion. For the longest time, I was trying to find a way to be a writer. I did stand up/improv/self published a book. I have all this experience from that but that little voice in my head keeps telling me anything I will try will fail and to quit. I want to start doing board game design and a podcast exploring what I love and want to learn in this field but it’s so hard to keep that beast at bay especially at the beginning. I feel like as I get older, it gets harder to fit that feeling that you’ve missed your shot. But on the plus side, I’ve moved to a new place to leave negativity behind and I hope to use a similar mindset to you in my work and my private life. Anyways, I’m digressing. Thank you for sharing your story and hopefully in a year from now I can enjoy more of your journey and hopefully I can also say that I’ve moved forward in a meaningful way in my goals and not let the voice be right.

Thank you for sharing, Tony, and happy birthday! I can understand the fear of failure and the feeling that it may be too late. One thing I mentioned in a post earlier this year is that a framework I find helpful for creation is to frame failure as an absence of creation, nothing more. That is, it isn’t about your game being good or published or a best seller; it’s about you putting in the work to create a playable version of the game. There is still the chance to fail, but it’s entirely in your control: You either create the game or you don’t. Everything else is just a cherry on top. :)

Since you asked… Worst: 1. Arguing with my wife (the bad kind) in front of my child. Never do this. An imprint is left and I can never erase it. 2. Not having a stable job and not having enough money to help my mother while she was dying. Those were the darkest years of my life.

Best: 1. After my mother died, I accepted defeat for my “passion” job (art director), and went back to school to focus on a more lucrative career (software). After 3 years of intense study and humility, at the age of 43, I was able to find an excellent job, erase 10 years of debt, pay back my school loans, and become somewhat financially stable. I now preach how no one is too old to study and re-train for a new career. 2. Buying a house. 30 years of renting was a massive financial and emotional drain. Buying a house, where the mortgage was less than our rent, finally left me with financial stability I had dreamt about for years. 3. Rejecting religion. For years in my youth, I was conflicted and confused from heartless Christian rhetoric. Once I realized religion was only one perspective to view life, I could more clearly see how I fit into this world. Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha helped me see a perspective I’d never seen before. (I realize this isn’t for everyone, but for me religion was hurtful.)

Adam, thank you so much for sharing your list–I appreciate your vulnerability. I’m really sorry to hear about those dark years, and I hope you’re in a good place now (it sounds like it from your Best #1).

Excellent post. I’m nearing 63 and I can tell you that #3 under Worst is the most important thing.

Thank you, Roger. I’m inclined to agree with that–a lot of the others connect back to it.

This is a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you, David!

I imagine when you are older you will realize that not having children was your #1 worst decision.

Or, if you care about the impact of anthropogenic global warming on the planet, it is your #1 best decision ever. Why people feel the need to breed or encourage others to breed is beyond me. Most people aren’t capable of taking care of themselves properly, much less another human being.

I really find both this comment and this reply troubling.

For some of us, having children is an absolutely wonderful experience, and I can see where someone who is in that boat would think that not having children will be a big regret. But has this person really been so lucky as to never come into contact with children whose parents feel they were a mistake? Have you not seen what that does to a child?

On the other hand, framing the choice of children in environmental terms I find to be a red herring. The climate problems that we have caused are too big to be solved by the adults of today. We can (and desperately need to) do more work that direction, but we cannot finish that work and there will be a burden passed to future generations. If we truly care about the planet long term, we need those future generations to understand these problems and their importance and be willing to work on those solutions. If environmentalists stop having kids, who does that leave in those future generations?

As to the original post, I love the underlying theme of the value of taking care of yourself _and_ taking care of others. :)

That sounds a lot like you’re just pushing the problem to the next generation which is really irresponsible. Issues that humans have created can be fixed. But we’re too selfish because we want everything now. Not having kids and reducing the human population is one of the best ways to reduce human waste. But clearly we’re too selfish to even do that.

I feel pretty old at 42, and I’m much happier with my life and the impact I’ve tried to have on others by simply being a father to 2 cats and an uncle to 6 little kids. We’ll see if my thoughts on that change over the years–it’s certainly possible–but I think we might just be very different people in those regards, Jack.

What if he had kids and figured out it was the worst decision and it wrecked both his and their lives ?

This is, best I can tell, a rather interesting assumption. Not all people need children to fulfil their lives. Not all people want children. And I know many who feel this way and are quite happy in their lives. You do you, Jamey.

How is this a helpful comment? Are you acting out of kindness or compassion when wishing or predicting regret upon a person? People have many reasons for choosing not to have kids. I have two young children, and it is extremely difficult sometimes. Of course I love them very much and couldn’t imagine my life without them now, but I also recognize the profundity of the decision and would never fault a person for acknowledging that and deciding against it.

It is profoundly selfish to think the way you’re describing. The thought that someone might have kids for fear of regretting not having them is astounding. You don’t know anyone’s reasons for choosing not to make this decision. There are countless valid reasons, and it is arrogant and presumptuous to say something like this. And it is certainly not kind.

This comment has spun a conversation that has begun to deviate far from the topic of this post, and I’d ask that we move on from this thread (if it continues, I’ll just delete the comment and all responses with it). While the post is about MY best and worst decisions, the discussion topic is YOUR best and worst decisions.

Please keep in mind the commenting guidelines on this website: “Antagonistic, rude, or degrading comments will be removed.”

Jamey its not easy for a person to see and say out loud what bad decisions he/she made, and even by doing so that moves you forward.

Well said, Jordan. I’m always trying to learn and grow to the best of my ability.

Such a great post! I’m a gamer at heart, but the points that hit home for me most were #2 and #3 under worst decisions. However, waiting for the right person for me was the best decision ever. In my thirties, I really started thinking that “movie” love was just a pipe dream I was chasing and that it just didn’t exist. And then I met my wife (18 years strong so far). I can’t even describe in words what the connection is, I think it’s a bit different for everyone. But I’m just glad I found it. And I totally agree on the third point… I like myself the least when I act in any way that is not kind. I try to learn and be better every day, mainly so I can look in the mirror and see someone I admire. Maybe one day I’ll get there.

Definitely appreciate this post. Like everyone, I also have a list like this, but I find some of the worst decisions have definitely set me on the path to the best ones.

One particular thing I need to work on is the habit of not acting on those creative urges to write a story or design a game, etc. I’m only in my early-to-mid thirties, but with my second just having been born, it’s had me thinking a bit more about these things.

Thanks for sharing that, Daniel. I agree about how some really bad decisions have changed my path for the better. I hope you find a way to tap into the desire to create!

This is good. Thanks for sharing, Jamey.

Good decision? :) Thanks, Wes!

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The Best Decision I Ever Made

A life is made of a million decisions, forks in the road that require a choice: Do I want to be a lawyer or a film producer? Should I travel across the world to attend college? Do I need to stop drinking martinis? Should I take the lucrative job offer if it means spending less time with my family?

Related:  Stop Overthinking It: 9 Ways to Make Decisions With Confidence

Sometimes we know the answers intuitively and quickly decide. Other times we debate endlessly, agonizing our way toward an answer. At pivotal points in life, the number of decisions can be overwhelming .

Robert Frost suggested that the best path was the less predictable one.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

That was true for some of the achievers we talked to—that taking risks led to fantastic success . But others said well-worn paths work, too. That’s why choosing can be so difficult. Here are what some decision-makers described as their best choices, how they were made, and how those decisions helped lead them toward success and happiness.

Blake Shelton

Country music star and The Voice judge

The best decision I ever made was two weeks out of high school I moved to Nashville to pursue my dream of being a country singer. I think if I hadn’t made that decision at such a young age I might have been afraid to do it later on in life.

James Patterson

Best-selling author who is releasing his latest book, Filthy Rich , in October

I’d like to think I’ve occasionally made good decisions in my life (first among them marrying my wife, Sue)—but professionally, I’d say that leaving my post as North American CEO of J. Walter Thompson.

At the time I left, I was being considered as a candidate for worldwide CEO, and it’s scary to contemplate a second career when you’re doing that well. But I knew I never truly had a passion for advertising. As a business, I’d always found it more difficult than it had to be—it’s surprisingly hard to sell clients blueprints that communicate what a television campaign is going to look like before it’s filmed. And every client you deal with is very different than the last.

Leaving JWT was a decision that I’ve never regretted, but it wasn’t easy. You never know what’s going to happen. All I knew at the time was that I loved writing and that I wanted to do more of it. So I kept writing and haven’t stopped since. I’ve never been happier. And I’ve never been more successful.

Author, financial adviser and motivational speaker

Fifteen years ago I decided that I didn’t want to live a lie anymore. I wanted to stand in my truth. I didn’t want people in my life who did not support me—emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. I only wanted people in my life who were positive influences on others and me.

So at the age of 50, I decided to make a clean sweep. I took a hard look at my friends, my employees and a relationship I’d been in for eight years. In just one week, I ended a lot of relationships, cutting off some friendships I’d had for a good 15 years.

And I have to tell you, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Because the true key to success, believe it or not, is to keep good company. You might have a great idea, one that is great for you, but others will try to sabotage you.

When you stand in the truth of who you are, on all levels, then you become the most powerful person that you can be. The world is attracted to truth. The world is repelled by lies. When people can feel something isn’t right, they’re repelled from you, from your product, from your idea, from hiring you, from being around you. When you speak the truth—and act in the truth—everybody is attracted to you.

Alana Jane Nichols

Three-time gold medalist in the Paralympic Games

I went to college at the University of New Mexico. To everyone there, I was a disabled girl in a wheelchair. I got really depressed. I started thinking about suicide. I just didn’t want to live the rest of my life in that chair. It was unbearable.

Then I rolled into the university gym one Wednesday afternoon. That’s when I saw a whole team of people playing basketball in wheelchairs. They were violent and loud and hitting each other. They’d fall over in their wheelchairs; then just get back up. It was wild and ridiculous.

At some point they noticed me, and they stopped playing. They asked me my name. They asked me if I wanted to play. I had always been a rough-and-tumble girl, but since my accident, everyone had treated me like I was fragile.

That day I rolled myself onto the court, and I decided to keep playing.

Author and entrepreneur

The best decision I ever made was the decision to start making decisions. To respond and initiate, not merely to react or take what’s on offer. Mostly, the commitment to pick myself, to pursue a path that mattered to me and the people I work with. We have way more freedom than we realize , but it begins with deciding.

Soledad O’Brien

Award-winning broadcast journalist and CEO of Starfish Media Group

I knew I wanted to have a substantial career . I also knew I wanted to get married and have kids. Lots of kids.

Because I was very strategic about it, it helped me make decisions all along the way. I had it mapped out, the things that were all important to me—career, husband, children. Now I’ve been married for more than 20 years, I have four children, and I love my work.

I like to give this advice to young women: Be as intentional about planning your family life as you are about planning your career. That’s what worked for me.

Alan Parsons

Songwriter, musician and record producer

Who would turn down working with Pink Floyd in their heyday? I did.

Recording Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon was not a very lucrative activity. I was a staff engineer at Abbey Road Studios on a fixed salary of 35 pounds a week. Following the album’s success, I turned down a substantial full-time job offer from the band to work as their recording and live sound engineer.

I was fortunate enough to soon enjoy immediate chart success as an independent music producer with a number of British and American artists. I had the creative freedom to produce artists of my own choice, and to continue with the formation of The Alan Parsons Project, which in retrospect might not have happened if I had accepted that job.

Joel Osteen

Senior Pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston and author of Think Better, Live Better , released in October

My best decision, after marrying my wife, Victoria, of course, was the decision to take over as the senior pastor at Lakewood Church.

After my father went to be with the Lord, I felt a deep desire to step up and serve as pastor of Lakewood Church. Having preached only once in my life—a week before my father died—that desire was soon bombarded by a variety of negative thoughts. Today when I see the opportunities to make a difference in the lives of so many people, I am truly grateful for God’s grace and the strength to have made that decision years ago.

Mike Rawlings

Mayor of Dallas

I’ve made a lot of decisions—I’m old—but I think the seminal one for me was deciding to stay in Dallas. I came to Dallas in 1976 after graduating from Boston College. I didn’t like Dallas very much. I thought I’d stay here for a few years, then move back East. But I went through a divorce in my first marriage and my daughter was here. I really wanted to be near her. So I decided to stay in Dallas. And I think that made me accomplish what I think is the most important job a person has, if you’re lucky enough to have kids: to be a good parent.

I think how you go about decision-making is important. A lot of decisions I face, I don’t immediately know what the right answers are. If I’ve got the time, I let those decisions come to me. You need to feel decisions as well as think them; they have to make sense both intellectually and emotionally. Then once you know what the answer is, you move quickly.

Diane Warren

Legendary eight-time Oscar nominee and Grammy-winning songwriter

The best decision I’ve ever made is to follow my own vision. I’ve never been someone to go around asking, “What do you think? What do you think?” I’ve always let my passion lead me. I’ve tried to just keep my blinders on and go for what I believe in. I know when something is great. When I know this, nothing stops me.

Paul Levine

President of Trulia

By far the best decision I ever made was to move from the East Coast to Silicon Valley 20 years ago. I grew up in the New York suburbs, and I was fascinated with technology. I realized that all of the companies I wanted to work for were located within 10 miles of each other in Silicon Valley. I wanted to be in the center of the action.

I’d advise people to think about where they live, based on what they want to do. If you want to work in automotive, you might want to move to Detroit. If you’re interested in entertaining, you probably want to be in Los Angeles.

Get to where the action is.

Arianna Huffington

Co-founder of The Huffington Post and author of The Sleep Revolution

The best decision I ever made was committing to getting eight hours of sleep a night. For many years I subscribed to a very flawed definition of success, buying into our collective delusion that burnout is the necessary price we must pay for success. Then in 2007, I had a painful wakeup call: I fainted from sleep-deprivation and exhaustion, hit my head on my desk, and broke my cheekbone. From that point on, I knew I had to make sleep a priority .

Now, 95 percent of the time I get eight hours of sleep a night. Once I started giving sleep the respect it deserves, my life improved in pretty much every way. Now, instead of waking up to the sense that I have to trudge through activities, I wake up feeling joyful about the day’s possibilities. I’m also better able to recognize red flags and rebound from setbacks. It’s like being dialed into a different channel that has less static.

TV legend and winner of seven Emmy awards

The best decision I ever made was taking the job on The Mary Tyler Moore Show . It was as fine a decision as I ever made. I was branching out into an area of comedy that I hadn’t perfected yet, so there was a lot to master. Taking that role changed my life.

One thing that comedy did for me as an actor is that, no matter how gripping a role may be, it’s not real unless you can incorporate comedy into it. It always makes a role more believable. That role helped me learn so many things I needed to know.

Mehmet Oz, m.d.,

Surgeon, author and television personality

After 31 years, I can say without question that the best decision that I ever made was marrying my wife, Lisa. I found a worthy opponent and wisely put a ring on

her. She had bigger aspirations for me than were on my vision board and mastered the art of telling me what I need to hear rather than what I want to hear. She fills in the many areas where I am weak and turbocharges my strengths. In failure, she steadies my foundation. In success, she maintains a balanced perspective.

Mandy Ginsberg

CEO for Match group North America

The night before my mother died of ovarian cancer, she did a blood test, and we discovered she had the BRCA1 mutation. With this mutation, you have a roughly 90 percent chance of having breast cancer—which my mom had in her 30s—and you have a up to 70 percent chance of having ovarian cancer.

I got tested, and I tested positive for the defect. Then I had a choice to make. Unlike the genetic tests for Alzheimer’s—for which there’s not much you can do—you can take preventive measures for this. So in my 40s, I had a preventative double mastectomy, and then a couple of years later I had a hysterectomy and oophorectomy.

In some ways, it wasn’t even a decision—I watched my mother die. With my genetics, I felt as if a bomb were going to go off at any minute. It has given me a great sense of relief, the feeling that I will have a longer runway in front of me, more time to spend with my own two daughters, more time to do the work that I love .

Lynn Whitfield

Actress and producer

When I was younger, several people forced me to think seriously about planning for retirement. So I did that, kicking and screaming. But now that I’m older, I’m grateful. That has allowed me to explore my art, without worrying about whether I work next week. It’s given me a great deal of security and freedom.

Another big decision is that three or four years ago I re-evaluated my priorities, took another look at what it takes for me to be comfortable. I started downsizing and that has made such a huge difference. I have no interest in keeping up with the Joneses or anyone else. I chose to simplify and pare down, do what I want to do, be where I want to be.

I have so many friends who are very well off and they are still having conversations about not being fulfilled. They’re wondering, What is the meaning of my life? I don’t feel that way, because I feel as if I’m living my purpose .

Dave Coulier

Stand-up comedian and actor in the Netflix series, Fuller House , and author of The Adventures of Jimmy Burger 

I grew up in Detroit, and everyone there worked in the automotive industry. You pretty much decided between the big three: Chrysler, General Motors or Ford. But I was interested in entertainment and stand-up comedy and doing silly voices for a living.

So I moved to Los Angeles and threw myself into the unknown fire. I also decided to forgo college, and everyone thought I was crazy. But I thought, No one in college is going to teach me how to do funny cartoon voices or how to be a comedy writer.

Back then, at 19 years old, I was too inexperienced and naive to know the odds—they weren’t good. But it ended up being the best decision I ever made because it completely shaped and changed my world.

Ian Ziering

Actor in Beverly Hills 90210 and Sharknado , and entrepreneur

I’ve always looked at the celebrity I’ve earned as capital.  I believe spending that capital doing good things for other people is the best way to spend it.  When I was asked to participate in The Celebrity Apprentice , I felt lucky and honored to have the chance to raise money and awareness of a horrible disease called epidermolysis bullosa. With that goal in mind, I came to the show with a no-lose mentality , and it was the best decision I ever made.

Though Leeza Gibbons ultimately won the title and $320,000 for EBKids.org, getting to mention EB on every prime time show produced that season was all I needed to feel like a winner.

Katie Kellett

Director of imprints at Arcadia Publishing

At 40 years old I made a decision to run . It wasn’t a well-thought-out decision; it was a spur of the moment choice on a miserably hot summer day in Charleston, South Carolina. 

I am the most unlikely of runners: I have never been an athlete, I smoked for the better part of two decades, and I was one of those people who always quipped, “I only run if someone is chasing me with a knife.”

But in the months that preceded that hot summer day, I had quit smoking and I’d begun to exercise. I was going through a divorce and looking for positive outlets to channel my anger and anxiety, wishing especially not to channel them toward my 5-year-old daughter. 

So I laced up my shoes, walked out the door and started to run. That first run was brutal and, truth be told, almost every one of them has been brutal since that day.

And although I haven’t exactly hated shopping for smaller clothes, the real reward has been something much deeper. Running has opened up ideas of possibility for me; I see myself in a different light.

Sarah Hepola

Author of the New York Times best-seller, Blackout

I quit drinking at the age of 35. I did not want to do it. I’d loved alcohol since I was a girl. It had been my rebellion, my path to adventure, my identity, my life companion and, eventually, my undoing. What happens when you rely on booze to fix you is that you don’t learn to soothe yourself. I’ve heard other problem drinkers say if they hadn’t quit, they probably would have died. I never thought that. But I did think, If I don’t quit, I’m never going to live.

My world had become so small by the end. Addiction is life on a very short leash. I was unhappy—no, miserable—for the first year of sobriety. I felt bitter and robbed, but with time I began to see how much I had been drinking away: my gifts, my clarity, this present moment. Sobriety was a chance to start my life over and discover all the joys in my own body that I had been drinking in order to find: confidence, creative inspiration, pleasure.

I am 41 now, a beginner in many ways, and I think of quitting drinking as the beginning of my adulthood—the moment I decided to take full responsibility for my life and, in doing so, finally made it great.

Mark Victor Hansen

Motivational speaker and co-author of Chicken Soup for the Soul

The best decision that I ever made after my painful divorce was to keep my heart open to the idea that I could still find my true love in this lifetime. I started by writing a list of 267 ideals that I desired in a marriage and marital partner, if I were ever to marry again. I wanted someone who could share my values, spiritual beliefs, ambition, desire, drive, hopes, and big goals for the future. I wrote that we needed to have absolute love for each other and a mutual affinity for projects we undertook. I believe that clarity of thinking and spiritual alignment with God creates the space for dreams and goals to manifest. Once created, then you need to be awake and aware when the answered prayers show up on your path.

My answer presented at an Author 101 conference. From the stage, I saw in the audience a vision of loveliness, charisma, style, and perfection in motion. I asked and discovered the woman I couldn’t take my eyes off was divorced. Fortuitously, in the evening VIP reception where I was surrounded by people who were barraging me with questions. I noticed from across the room, someone suddenly spilled red wine on this glorious woman’s white slacks. Opportunity presented itself. I responded. I broke from my group of fans and rushed to her rescue. I promised that I knew the secret doorway to the kitchen and the Club Soda to save her stained slacks. I took her hand and rushed us out of the questioning throngs, and once the club soda was procured, I was able to chat a little bit with her to find out more about her. We had instant camaraderie and after a few minutes of chatting, I knew there was something very special about this woman, and our encounter. Even her name, Crystal, seemed like the perfect fit.

I gently invited Crystal to dine at a nice restaurant in the in Hollywood neighborhood, and she admitted she was starving, as was I. When we arrived at the restaurant, the line to get in was long and a hundred dollar bill would not gain entry, I felt assured. I approached the maître d’ smiling. He looked at her, saw her radiant undeniable glow and said to me: “Who is she?” I jokingly said: “She is the Queen of Denmark.” He said, “No way, really?” Oh my gosh, she is! And who are you?” I know as a lifelong sales trainer to answer a question with a question and said playfully, “Who travels with the Queen?” “Oh my, you’re the King! Wait right here one second and we’ll get you the perfect table.”  I glanced at Crystal who had a huge smile on her face. She whispered, “I think it’s too late to too tell him you were kidding.” After a couple of hours of extraordinary conversation and a lovely dinner, it felt like we had known each other forever.

Throughout our courtship, I would have to pinch myself because it really seemed as though my dreams had truly been fulfilled. I asked her repeatedly to marry me because she always said “Yes!” and I never got tired of hearing that answer!

Eight years later we are happily married, beyond what either of us ever imagined could have happened. It is said there is a level beyond Soul Mates, called Twin Flames in which when two people come together, like flames from two candles when they’re joined, they rise together as one flame to exponentially higher levels. Crystal is my Twin Flame and I am hers.

After almost giving up on love after my bitter divorce, the decision I made to find the courage to continue to believe in my dreams and goals, and in the divine power that orchestrates them into reality is the best decision I have ever or will ever make.

Dr. Travis Stork

ER physician, best-selling author and host of the Emmy Award-winning series, The Doctors

I never intended to be a doctor and took a consulting job after I graduated as a math and economics major from Duke. I began volunteering at a free health clinic and it was there that I found my true calling. The best decision I ever made was to take a leap of faith and go back to medical school. I took the prerequisite classes needed at night while continuing to work. I still remember, like it was yesterday, shedding tears of joy as I sat on my front porch reading my medical school acceptance letter. My career in medicine has given my life purpose and helping people live the healthiest life possible has become my true passion. 

Related:  A Guide for Making Tough Decisions

This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue of SUCCESS magazine .

Jamie Thompson

Jamie Thompson is a freelance writer based in Dallas.

5473 Blair Road, Suite 100 PMB 30053 Dallas, TX 75231

Copyright © 2024 SUCCESS Magazine. All rights reserved.

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‘The best decision I’ve ever made’

I graduated from Kellogg’s One-Year Full-Time program in June, and having been in the work world for six months, I look back and can honestly say choosing Kellogg and the 1Y program was the best decision I’ve ever made.

Kellogg was the ultimate life experience.

It equipped me with top-tier management education and training alongside some of the smartest business students in the world. In addition, it afforded me everything I could hope for in terms of the social experience and networking opportunities.

The 1Y program was the perfect choice given my undergraduate business degree, and it enabled me to quickly transition to an operating role at Uber in Chicago. Having gone to Kellogg with my CPA and investment banking experience, I rounded out my background by focusing on advanced electives in entrepreneurship, management, and strategy.

I gravitated toward the idea of being in a small, tight-knit program of 100 plus students, while at the same time taking classes, being in clubs, traveling and having fun with all the other full-time MBA’s. My favorite memories from Kellogg include enduring the rigor of my business strategy class and the highs and lows of New Venture Discovery, serving on the Day At Kellogg Executive Committee, going on KWEST Panama, winning an MBA basketball tournament in Las Vegas (pictured above) and mentoring grade-school students at a Catholic school on the South Side of Chicago.

For prospective MBA students and others interested in learning about Kellogg, I’d encourage you to consider first and foremost whether Kellogg is the right fit. Kellogg’s culture is unique. There’s something about it that’s hard to describe, it’s something intangible that you either feel aligned with or you don’t. In deciding which program, you should consider your educational background and experience, what you want out of your time at Kellogg and your career goals immediately after school.

From my perspective, the 1Y program is a no brainer if you did business undergrad and have a clear career vision. It’s also important to consider how much you need or want an internship, how much you value the extra quarters of academics and what you’re looking for from a pure social experience. Keep in mind that the opportunity cost of two years is increasing, and networking doesn’t stop at graduation.

Kellogg and the 1Y program are not for everyone, but I am a huge advocate of both. I couldn’t feel more confident in the decisions I’ve made, where I’m at with my career, and what lies ahead both professionally and in life!

Patrick is currently an Operations and Logistics Manager at Uber Chicago. Prior to Kellogg, Patrick worked at Pagemill Partners, a boutique technology focused investment bank in Palo Alto. He started his career at Ernst & Young.

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The best decisions i have made.

You will make decisions in your life. Some of these decisions will be incredibly good and result with you experiencing a much improved quality of life. Other decisions will be poor, yielding little benefit, or worse, cause more damage than good. If there is one truth I have found it is that I’m not very good at predicting which decisions will have tremendous benefits and which ones will be a waste of time.

Pareto’s Principle, often referred to as the 80/20 rule, discovered by late Itallian economist, Vilfredo Pareto, applies strongly to the decisions you make in your life. A select few of my decisions have had major consequences in improving my own life, even those that seemed minor and unimportant at the time. As a result, I would share the best decisions I have made in my life, particularly those in the past few years.

Decision No. 9 – Give Up Television

Rounding out the bottom of my list, giving up television has been one of the most profitable decisions I have made. Initially I though that giving up television would simply save me some time as my schedule got busier. Although this was definitely true, the full consequences of this decision were far greater than I had first imagined.

Television provides a source of fairly low quality stimulation and interest. I say low-quality because the amount of actual interest is spread over a large area of boring and ad filled wasteland. By giving up television I noticed myself shifting more towards genuinely interesting social activities and entertainment. Although I had initially expected my entertainment and enjoyment value to go down because of this decision, the opposite turned out to be true. I have written previously about this decision, here .

Decision No. 8 – Listen to Audio Programs

Like many of the decisions that have really impacted the quality of my life, listening to audio programs seemed like a fairly innocuous one at first. I originally thought that listening to audio recordings would be a good way to gather new ideas when I couldn’t read. But listening to recordings has a far greater impact than that. Not only do you get fresh new idea, but you also get the emotional content of the message which is incredibly important in keeping your emotional energy high.

Audio recordings are also great because they don’t require any additional time or energy investment. You can listen to audio recordings when driving, exercising, cooking or doing any other activity that doesn’t require much of your mental resources. Adopting the habit of listening to recordings whenever I had the opportunity I could often listen to as much as an hour or two each day even when my schedule was completely full. I have written more about this here .

Decision No. 7 – Join Toastmasters

This was a completely unexpected but incredibly powerful decision. After hearing a bit of positive words about Toastmasters I decided to check out our local club on a whim. When I got there I was very surprised to be warmly greeted and encouraged. Not only did I find my communication skills improving greatly in a supportive environment, but the meetings were a blast.

Toastmasters is a great organization for improving your personal development even if you don’t think you need to improve communication skills (although I believe this is a core skill necessary for everyone). Far cheaper than a seminar you get tons of opportunity to improve your confidence and enjoy a great atmosphere. I am planning to join a new Toastmasters club in Winnipeg when I leave for University and I am hoping to get my Competent Toastmasters award in the upcoming year.

Decision No. 6 – Become an Early Riser

I am not an early riser by nature and being a teenager doesn’t help things. After reading How To Become An Early Riser by Steve Pavlina , I was inspired to make the change (although my personal experience disagrees with some of his recommendations on this issue). Two years ago I was waking up usually at about 7:30 AM on weekdays and sleeping in between 9-10 AM on weekends. From this starting point I worked to consistently start going to sleep and waking up earlier to a point where I was waking up at 5:30 AM this June.

At first I thought becoming an early riser would simply be a trade between morning hours and night hours. After making this change, however, I believe that the exchange is far more than that. By waking up earlier you are literally jump-starting your day to be filled with more productivity, energy and enthusiasm. A slow and late wake up tends to make it much harder to accelerate the day. I think this may have something to do with the psychological connections between rising early and being productive, but it is almost spooky how much more energy you can create out of an early rising day once you are used to it.

Decision No. 5 – Become a Strict Vegetarian

I’m not your typical animal-rights activist type of vegetarian. When I was eating meat a year ago I didn’t have any real moral quandary over it. In fact most probably would have considered me far closer to the insensitive scale than over pouring with emotion for animals. But in a typical self-serving fashion I began to learn a lot more about that health benefits of eating a vegetarian diet and decided to make a switch.

The amazing thing about this decision was simply that after becoming a vegetarian, I started to empathize more and more with all the other ethical and ecological reasons for becoming a vegetarian. Now I think if I were told that a vegetarian diet was equal to a meat eating diet in terms of health benefits (which I haven’t) I would probably still stick to this way of life simply because the other reasons have become far more compelling.

The purpose of this post isn’t to outline why you should become a vegetarian or even bring up reasons which I think most people are currently unaware. You will have to do that for yourself. I’m also not trying to get on an ethical platform to tout my beliefs. The only thing I would like to state is that doing research on becoming a vegetarian and experiencing it for myself broke down some of the things I had previously desensitized myself to.

Decision No. 4 – Read a Book Per Week

Almost a year ago I started reading at least one book per week. Some books take longer than others, but this is what I strive for on average. In the short term this habit doesn’t have many consequences on the quality of your life. But increasing reading has opened myself up to new ideas that have considerably affected the quality of my life.

Not only has increased reading given me many new personal development ideas, but I have been able to improve my skills as well. Based on some PHP and CSS books I read, I was able to make some changes to this website design that would have been impossible previously. Although reading can’t make up for actual experience, nothing facilitates learning more than a good book.

Decision No. 3 – Exercise Regularly

The decision to exercise for an hour almost every day of the week has brought numerous benefits to my overall quality of life. Aside from increased energy and fitness, exercise causes a boost in emotions, overall. Although sometimes it can be hard to compel yourself to put on those running shoes or head to the gym, I always find myself feeling better and more energized when I am heading back.

If you don’t exercise regularly, I would suggest incrementally improving the amount you are already doing, so if you don’t exercise at all, starting with a half hour, three times a week would probably be good. Moving it up as you get more accustomed to the exercise and you can make it a part of your daily routine. If you want to start an exercise program, I wrote about it here .

Decision No. 2 – Set Goals

Setting goals dramatically improves the quality of your life. Somewhat paradoxically, achieving goals has little or no effect. The real benefit to goal setting lies in setting and working towards them. Writing down a goal and working towards it has a powerful ability to make you feel motivated, inspired and that you are doing something meaningful. Although taking the occasional break from goal setting can be a good idea, carefully setting and working towards goals can have a huge impact on your life.

When I originally discovered goal-setting I used it like most people, simply to get results more quickly. However, the real power of goal-setting came when I realized that goals improve your life not by being achieved but by being worked towards. I have written about goal setting extensively and you can have my free full-version program, Goals! An Interactive Guide , to help you get started.

Decision No. 1 – Start Blogging

Simply put, starting this blog has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. More than anything else, starting this blog has really catapulted my own growth and quality of life. Not only have I got to fully articulate my ideas and set myself to a higher standard I have been able to reach a lot of people.

Originally I was skeptical about starting a blog, worrying that I might not be able to provide value or help. Now I can see clearly that it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. Blogging certainly isn’t for everyone and it is a lot of work, but I would suggest that anyone who has even the slightest inclination give it a try. It might just change your life.

So there you have it, the top nine decisions that have really shaped my life. There are a lot of other decisions that have gotten me to this point, but these have been the major factors. Hopefully I will make even more decisions and I can post another list like this in the future. Many of them seemed like nothing at the time but they truly have been the best decisions I have made.

So now I have a question for you, what are some of the best decisions you have ever made?

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This couple has given the phrase “ father of the bride ” an entirely new meaning. 

In celebration of her recent Las Vegas nuptials , a newlywed named Christy broadcast on TikTok the footage of the impassioned first kiss she shared with her groom moments after the pair were pronounced husband and wife. 

Then, the blushing bride revealed that her new hubby allegedly is also her stepdaddy . 

“Marrying my stepdad was the best decision I’ve ever made,” boasts Christy, a mother of two from Tampa, Florida, in the on-screen text of her viral video.  She has since shared a different story .

In the caption for the initial clip, which has scared up an eye-popping 18.8 million views, the giddy sweetheart stamped the snippet with the cringeworthy hashtag “#MarryYourMomsEx.”

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And, unsurprisingly, stunned TikTok users could do little to hold their peace concerning the unconventional covenant .  

“I don’t think I can come up with a situation where this happens and there’s no ick,” a disgusted commenter wrote. 

“There’s 7 billion people in the world. Why?” asked another naysayer. 

“He really went from ‘dad’ to ‘daddy ‘ didn’t he,” joked one viewer. 

“There should never be a man that can say ‘that’s not how your momma did it,’” chimed another freaked-out audience member. 

And many online onlookers were curious about Christy’s relationship with her mother — the groom’s ex-wife . 

“Am I the only [one] wondering how your mom is doing?” wrote a concerned spectator. 

“Isn’t mom included in ‘Girl Code,’” asked another, referring to the idea that a woman’s ex is eternally off limits to friends and family. 

However, in a subsequent clip, Christy assured followers that her mother — who can allegedly be seen in the background of the wedding video taking photographs of the happy couple — is in full support of their union. 

“Was I ‘ groomed’ [by my stepdad] ? No,” she wrote in the closed caption of the sequel post. “Did my stepdad raise me? No.”

She continued, “Was I a minor when I met him? No.” 

“Do me and my mom still talk? Yes,” Christy confirmed, adding that her mother and stepfather did not have any children together during their marriage.

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Going vegan this year was one of the best decisions of my life

Having long Covid made me reassess my health and wellbeing, and the benefits have been profound

A t the start of 2021, I was diagnosed with long Covid. It was a huge relief to finally know why I had been struggling so much with my health – extreme fatigue, continuous coughing and, most distressing of all, brain fog and panic attacks. The diagnosis was also the beginning of a journey that would take me – of all places – to a life-changing decision about what I eat.

After further tests, I was told it was very likely that I had caught Covid a while ago, possibly at the start of the pandemic, before tests were available. I’m very fortunate to have a brilliant and caring GP who listens to me and provides me with support. He signed me off work for two months and helped me understand that I needed real rest to assist my recovery.

Once I received my diagnosis I spoke to two friends who had also been instrumental in helping me with my recovery and health. One of them had become a vegan a few years ago in order to manage her own health issues. She gently suggested I should think about trying a plant-based diet to help reduce the inflammation in my body, which was causing me pain, contributing to the deep fatigue, and harming my mental health. And that’s how I became a vegan.

I’ve always been curious about veganism but never really thought it was something I would embrace. I also don’t know any women of colour or Muslims who are vegan. This was part of the reason why I had never really explored it . You cannot be what you cannot see.

In the west, veganism is seen as an indulgence for the white middle classes; and in this country at least, it’s expensive and difficult to envisage for anyone who doesn’t fit into these categories. There’s a kind of elitism linked to veganism, which I think puts people off from exploring it.

Part of this is based in economic reality: it’s often more expensive to buy fresh vegetables and fruit – and spend time cooking them – than it is to rely on fast food or processed food, especially for people and families on budgets or struggling with the cost of living. There’s so much judgment heaped on people over the food they consume in the UK; it’s inherently linked to class – as most things are here. I’m understanding and seeing this more clearly.

This is just one of the reasons why vegans are also frequently portrayed as people without humour or joy; whose entire personalities are reducible to what they eat. We’re portrayed as smug people who spend time making our own yoghurt, trying out new ways to make a Sunday roast from mung beans. Oh and, of course, winding up the likes of Piers Morgan. The latter accusation I have no problem with.

Forget the stereotypes. Changing my mind about veganism has radically changed my life and vastly improved my health. The inflammation has eased off hugely, I have far more energy generally, I’m sleeping better, I feel less exhausted and stressed, and the panic attacks have receded. I’ve resumed counselling too, which is also really helping my recovery.

To be clear, I do not believe that anyone can wish away long Covid or any other illness through veganism alone or a change in lifestyle. But I do believe that we create healthier and more equal societies when everyone has the same opportunity to consciously be aware of how we eat and live.

There’s a big rise in the numbers of people in the UK exploring veganism. Research by BBC Good Food shows more than 20% of children in the UK are either already vegan or would like to become so in the near future.

According to a recent report from the University of Illinois, food production contributes around 37% of global greenhouse gas emissions; animal-based foods are estimated to produce twice the emissions of plant-based ones. The arguments in favour of changing our diets – whether for less meat or no animal-based products – are overwhelming.

I’m very much at the beginning of my vegan journey. However, I’ve learned that being vegan doesn’t require having to spend lots of money or shopping in fancy places. It does require being organised and planning meals and shopping visits. I’ve been reading up on new recipes and learning how to eat well on a budget. I’m of Pakistani heritage: a lot of the food I’ve grown up eating is vegan or can easily be adapted to be so.

Changing my mind about veganism has also introduced me to a community of people, including people and women of colour, who are on the same journey as me. It’s simply one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

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How I make my financial life work as a single mum by choice

perspective How I make my financial life work as a single mum by choice

About three years ago, I became a single parent. It wasn't something I'd set out to do.

Like many women, I pictured raising children with a partner. But after several failed relationships in my early 20s, I realised that maybe it wasn't going to happen for me the usual way.

I had always been quite independent, so I thought, "What if I could just do it on my own?"

The more I investigated it, the more I realised that was what I wanted to do.

The hardest (and best) decision of my life

Becoming a single mum by choice (SMBC) was one of the hardest yet best decisions I've ever made.

The early months were a mess of sleepless nights, self-doubt, and constant worry.

I was on my own — and while the early days were a struggle, I have no regrets.

Choosing to become a mother involved a lot of planning and considerations: emotional, physical, and financial. I had to consider:

• Can I afford this?
• What financial help is available to me?
• How long can I take maternity leave?
• Will I be able to cope with pregnancy, physically and mentally?
• Will I be enough?

The journey begins

In late 2017, I started trying to conceive at home, with a known donor.

Although many SMBCs undergo IUI (intrauterine insemination) or IVF (in vitro fertilisation) doing this can be very expensive, with many spending all their savings or even dipping into their superannuation to undergo fertility treatment.

The decision to start trying came only a few months after I started to take control of my finances and work towards becoming debt-free.

I grew up in a low-income family where financial literacy wasn't something I remember being taught.

I knew that if I wanted to become a single parent, I would need to be in a better financial position than I currently was.

My future child became my reason for turning things around.

Alongside trying, I was building my savings and paying off my debt. I became debt free in 2018 and a year after that, I fell pregnant with my son, who was born in August of 2020.

By the time my son was born I had $40,000 in savings. I'd been made redundant in late 2018, receiving a payout that helped boost my savings.

I was in a new job within three months, though, making sure that my new job had paid maternity leave so that I could take time off with my baby.

Careful planning goes a long way

For me and many other SMBCs, financial considerations are a big factor in the decision to have a child.

For single parents, whilst there is help from Centrelink, you are limited in the income you can make while you aren't working.

Taking any form of maternity leave requires careful planning, because it's not financially feasible to stay at home for long without savings to top you up.

Maternity leave and financial support were the biggest considerations for other SMBCs that I spoke to.

"Before I become a SMBC, I moved from a contract job to an ongoing one to ensure I would qualify for workplace maternity leave, as well as government paid parental leave," says Sarah, surname withheld for privacy.

"I had money saved up to finance my fertility treatment as I didn't want to have to dip into my super or take out a loan. Once I was pregnant, I saved as much as I could, as I knew I wanted to be able stay home with my baby for as long as possible."

Personally, I spent the first year at home with my son. This consisted of 17 weeks of a mix of annual leave and maternity leave from my workplace and then 18 weeks of paid parental leave (PPL).

After my PPL finished, I lived on benefits, topped up with my savings as needed. Centrelink benefits brought in 40 per cent less than I was making at my full-time job, which meant there was some strict budgeting going on.

I utilised all the cost-cutting measures I could, like buying second-hand clothing, toys or goods and more generally, working out the difference between a want or a need.

Navigating return to work as a solo parent

Making the decision to return to work was another complex one, weighing up the cost of childcare with how much I would earn working part time or full time and then how my benefits would change.

Striking the right balance can be tricky.

Ultimately, I returned to work part time so that I could still spend part of my week with my son. This balance gives me the best of both worlds: raising my son and working.

Understanding what Centrelink payments you're entitled to is also important, as these can help complement your work income. It can be a mine field, but the extra income really makes a difference.

For us, the future looks good. Amidst all the cost-of-living problems we are doing well (luckily).

We live frugally, but I'm still saving some money and working towards my goal of buying a house one day. A few years ago, I started investing some money in the stock market through exchange-traded funds (ETFs ).   

Once we have our forever home, I hope to start saving and investing for my son. Alongside my own investment portfolio, I want to grow his so that he has something for when he leaves home.

My goal is simple. I want to teach him as much as I can about finances, so he doesn't make the mistakes that I did. I want him to thrive, not just "survive".

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The Best Decision We Ever Made Paperback – November 7, 2023

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• Print length 326 pages
• Language English
• Publication date November 7, 2023
• Dimensions 6 x 0.82 x 9 inches
• ISBN-13 979-8989454204
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• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CN1SQR8Q
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vanessa\Mcdonald (November 7, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 326 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8989454204
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.23 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.82 x 9 inches
• #289 in Self-Help in New Age Religion
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About the author

Vanessa mcdonald.

A former "Mommy Wine Club" president and neighborhood party co-CEO, Vanessa has been alcohol-free since March 16, 2020.

Her inspiration for this book simply came from recognizing a need for a similar resource back when she was wrestling with her own relationship with alcohol. While residing in Iowa, Vanessa enjoys being a sports loving mom of four, transformational change leader and connoisseur of energy drinks.

She's an enneagram 7, an Aries, and a loyal Kansas Jayhawks fan. She was born on Good Friday AND Friday the 13th and believes in life's divine timing.

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Toronto homes are unaffordable, so I bought a houseboat for $250K—it's 'the best decision I ever made'

I 've spent much of my life on the water. I took sailing lessons as a child, spent 10 months living and studying aboard a tall ship in high school, and worked as a stewardess on a yacht for two and a half years after university.

When I moved from the water into Canada's largest city, Toronto, in 2013, I figured boat life was behind me — an unfortunate but necessary trade-off for a career in the big city.

Toronto is one of the least affordable housing markets in the world. Though I'd saved up, I recognized that I'd likely need to rent for the foreseeable future as I transitioned to my new life on land.

But in 2020, after several months of living in Covid lockdown with my three housemates, I stumbled upon an article about houseboats for sale just 30 minutes from downtown. The featured houseboats ranged in price from about $235,000 to about $286,000.

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With the average Toronto area home selling for nearly $700,000 at the time, these houseboats were one of the few affordable options. 

Within months, one of them would become my new home. 

Buying a houseboat: 'It felt like the perfect place for me'

I visited one of the houseboats the following week. The marina brimmed with life. Swans glided up to the houseboat, kayakers paddled by, and friendly neighbors stopped to chat. 

It felt like the perfect place for me. But, despite years of living on boats, I had absolutely no experience with houseboats . I was way out of my depth.

Nevertheless, when I heard someone else was putting in an offer a few weeks later, I decided to take the plunge. I got my finances together and secured a loan from a family member for about $25,000 on top of the money I'd saved up. 

My offer of $248,159 (342,500 Canadian dollars) for the 625-square-foot houseboat was accepted, and I made the move in November 2020.

Moving aboard: 'The best decision I ever made'

Going straight into a Canadian winter as a houseboat novice is generally considered a poor decision. But I had neighbors who came over armed with tools and optimism when my pipes froze. They dropped off jars of freeze-dried corn for the swans and soup for me.

Three years later, I regard buying my houseboat as the best decision I ever made.

I'm a marketing content specialist and primarily work remotely from my waterside desk overlooking the harbor. If I need to go into the office, I can take a quick train downtown. 

Despite the proximity to the city, it feels like I live in another world. I spend my summers going for sunrise kayaks and picnics at the beach after work. In winter, I cozy up by the fire with my two cats, Charlie and Finn, and explore the park and cross-country ski when the snow permits. 

Leaving the convenience of city life has been a small price to pay for the daily joys and serenity of living on the water. 

When it comes to the costs of houseboat life, there's some variation between summer and winter, but these are my typical monthly fees:

• Mooring fee : $732 (covers my allotted space on the dock, water, access to electricity and septic pump out, parking, and mail)
• Insurance : $223
• Electricity : $76
• Internet : $57
• Loan repayment : $362

Total : $1,450 U.S.

In addition to recurring costs, I'd estimate I've spent about $2,200 U.S. on small renovations since I moved in. 

Take a look inside my houseboat

My houseboat is nestled among 25 floating homes. To enter, you walk across the gangplank and onto the front deck. The dockside has hookup points for water, electricity, septic pump out, and fiber internet.

The first thing you'll see when you step inside is my bright, surprisingly spacious kitchen. I love cooking and have made this space my own. I retiled the backsplash, put in a new sink and faucet, and changed out the cabinet backs for rattan. With my brother's help, I recessed the cupboards and added an 18" dishwasher and work surface.

I have a countertop oven and a two-range cooktop, where I've made curries, homemade pizzas, and baked treats to share with my neighbors.

My bathroom has a typical residential toilet (which flushes into a holding tank below) and a bathtub. Integrating a shower is in my future plans.

The main room has a tall, sloping ceiling that makes the space feel large and open. This area acts as my living room, dining room, and office, and features a wood stove and sliding glass doors that exit onto my back deck.

My favorite thing I own is probably my cloud bookshelf. I love the combination of practical storage with a playful look.

Up the staircase is my loft bedroom. It fits a queen-sized bed, some drawers, and a small hanging closet my brother helped me build. My room has windows along all four walls overlooking the harbor and dock.

The upper deck is my oasis. I've spent countless hours pressure washing, sanding, and staining the wood, potting flowers, and finding the perfect outdoor furniture. Even though I can only use it for half the year, it's my favorite spot on the houseboat.  

Is houseboat life the easiest option? No. But for me, I can't imagine anything more perfect.

Kate Fincham is a content writer based out of Toronto. She shares her day-to-day experiences living on a houseboat on her Instagram and TikTok accounts.

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The Hydrator B5 Gel

The moonlight retinal super serum, fade away brightening serum, the eye enhancer eye cream, the night renewer cream, the nia 10 calming serum, the refresher face wash, the deep exfoliator face polish, the stargaze enhanced retinol serum, how maelove made good skincare cheap, the bottom line, i've tested and reviewed a lot of skincare products, and maelove makes some of the best and most affordable i've ever tried.

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When you step into a Sephora, it doesn't take long to realize that plenty of skincare is not affordable. Glossy tubs of La Mer go for $190 , and there's an $85 Peter Thomas Roth mask made with pure 24-karat gold . 

But, if you know where to look, you can find skincare products that perform on par with luxury picks. Companies like Maelove , a startup founded by MIT grads, use many of the same ingredients and cosmetics labs as high-end brands but sell products for a fraction of the cost, like a skincare version of Italic . 

Formulas are based more firmly on exhaustive research than the farm-to-face movement, and each product in the line is listed under $30, except for the Love 31 face oil and the Moonlight Retinal Super Serum .

What's better, though, is the quality for the price. I test many skincare products — both luxury and drugstore — for my job at Insider Reviews, and if I could only recommend one skincare brand to my friends and family, this would probably be it. The products work well, they're not expensive, and the startup rarely disappoints. Some of my favorites are the cult-favorite Glow Maker Serum (a much more affordable alternative to the pricey Skinceuticals C E Ferulic ) and the gentle yet efficacious Night Renewer Cream . Like discovering the loophole of buying Differin gel rather than Differin cream to save $200 in our Differin gel review , we think Maelove is one way to save hundreds on the essentials without making any concessions regarding what goes into the products themselves.

Below, in our Maelove review, you can learn more about what makes the affordable skincare line one of the best around.

The Glow Maker Serum

The Glow Maker is a vitamin C serum that brightens your complexion, evens tones, and lightens dark spots. It's lightweight and sinks in quickly and completely without leaving any tacky residue. While vitamin C serums can be drying, Maelove's iteration has a botanical blend and hyaluronic acid (which can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water) to prevent it.

Consumers have been quick to note the Glow Maker has a very similar ingredient list to the multi-award-winning C E Ferulic Serum , despite being more than $130 cheaper.

Read our full Maelove Glow Maker Serum review , which we also chose as one of the best vitamin C serums . 

The Hydrator is a light serum that's dense with hyaluronic acid , a substance that can hold over a thousand times its weight in water. Because it's so hydrating, it helps eliminate lines on your face when your skin is thirsting for water. "Considering that I only used the product for two weeks, I was surprised that the crow's feet — or fine lines around the outside of my eyes — became much less noticeable. They didn't look nearly as deep or severe," says Rebecca Strong, beauty writer for Insider Reviews. 

Read our full Maelove's Hydrator serum review to learn more about our experience using it and see before-and-after pictures.

The Moonlight Retinal Super Serum is Maelove's first retinal product. While it uses a more efficient ingredient than retinol, it's relatively inexpensive at $40 an ounce. Like other vitamin A products, Moonlight is designed to increase the body's natural processes that combat signs of aging: cell turnover, collagen production, improving discoloration, hydrating the skin, and reducing acne. 

Maelove claims its Moonlight serum delivers "prescription level benefits" over the counter. And retinaldehyde is actually stronger than retinol, according to celebrity dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman. However, Dr. Engelman also says it can have more intense effects — like dryness. Moonlight includes niacinamide, bisabolol, ceramide, tea extracts, hyaluronic acid, and squalane to balance out the formula. 

It's also important to note that vitamin A derivatives are a "known teratogen," according to Dr. Engelman, so it must be avoided if pregnant or breastfeeding. You can learn more about retinol and how it works here. 

If you want to eliminate dark spots, this is the product for you. This serum uses a potent combination of alpha arbutin, Kojic acid, and glycerin to fade hyperpigmentation while keeping your skin hydrated. Though we noticed a small stinging sensation when we first tried the product, it disappeared after a few days. In the end, the serum did just what it was supposed to: fade away dark, uneven patches of skin.

"After using the Fade Away brightening serum daily for three full weeks, I definitely noticed a difference in my dark spots. While they didn't disappear completely, most of them had faded to a lighter hue, making them less noticeable. That said, according to Dr. Vicki Rapaport , a board-certified dermatologist in private practice and co-host of the podcast Facially Conscious , the full benefits of this product might take six months or more. So, only time will tell if the spots will fade even further with continued use of the serum," says Rebecca Strong, beauty writer for Insider Reviews. 

Read our full Maelove Fade Away review to see photos and more of our thoughts on the serum.

The Eye Enhancer hydrates, tightens, and brightens the delicate skin around the eyes. A little goes a long way; it absorbs into the skin for an all-day brightness and de-puffing boost. Cold-pressed Robusta Coffee seed extract, full of antioxidants and polyphenols, reduces water retention and puffiness, and a botanical complex soothes the thin, sensitive skin around your eyes. But if you're used to a thicker eye cream, this may not be for you — it's very lightweight. 

The Night Renewer is one of my favorite products. It uses 10% medical-grade AHA, a blend of soothing ingredients, and hyaluronic acid to gently resurface the skin for better texture and even tone without being too harsh or drying. It took the company years of research to master something gentle and effective, and they've nailed it here. After one night of use, I noticed an improvement in my skin's texture and tone and have noticed my dark spots fading over time. My pores also look a little smaller.

Read our full Maelove Night Renewer review . 

The NIA 10 Calming Serum is designed for dry, inflamed, sensitive, acne-prone skin. Niacinamide (vitamin B3), zinc, and white tea extract work to calm the skin and improve redness and tone over time. I noticed it helped calm my blemishes and made my pores look noticeably smaller. In terms of redness, it's helped slightly with steady use, but the results have not been drastic. If redness is your main concern and your skin is too sensitive for vitamin C serums, this is worth checking out as an alternative. Otherwise, the Glow Maker may be better for overall tone correction.  

Read our full Maelove NIA 10 Calming Serum review . 

The Refresher is a gentle cleanser that helps clean the skin without disrupting its natural moisture barrier. Still, it can be slightly drying if you're used to other simple, gentle cleansers like Cetaphil . The Refresher uses a blend of AHAs (lactic, malic, and tartaric) to remove dead or dull skin cells, and without a moisturizer afterward, it can be drying. Personally, I like that the AHAs help calm my breakouts and remove dull skin, but if you're prone to dryness, you may want to stick with Cetaphil. The internal straw also doesn't reach all the way to the bottom of the bottle, so you may have to dig for the last bit of the face wash.

The Deep Exfoliator is a good, relatively gentle exfoliant. Its ingredients include BHA (salicylic acid) and pulverized clay to draw out impurities and absorb excess sebum, and niacinamide (vitamin B3), glycerin, allantoin, and vitamin E to restore moisture. When used a few times a week, it helps resurface your skin for better tone and texture. It works best when combined with another AHA/BHA like the Night Renewer, but it's nice on its own — especially for sensitive skin types. If you're looking for a stronger exfoliant and don't want to buy both, I recommend buying the Night Renewer . 

Recently, Maelove introduced a gentler retinol, the Stargaze Enhanced Retinol Serum, which contains the dermatologist-recommended concentration (0.25%) for those uninitiated to the ingredient. This formula is also a good choice for someone prone to sensitivity.

While retinol has plenty of benefits in reducing fine lines and evening out skin tone, it's also known to cause dryness and irritation. The Stargaze serum lessens side effects by including a host of hydrating and calming ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. If you want to try retinol but have been worried about potential irritation, this serum is a solid entry point.

Read our full Maelove Stargaze Serum review . 

Maelove CEO and cofounder Jackie Kim wanted to cut prices on grooming products, and cofounders Brad Yim and Rishi Khaitan were looking for ways to apply artificial intelligence techniques to unexpected industries. Skincare — with its glamour and markups — seemed like a natural fit.

As industry outsiders, Kim and company were able to pinpoint the norms that needed challenging. "The first oddity of the skincare industry that we noticed was that it's run like the fashion industry," Kim explained. "Marketers create trends and endless product varieties in an attempt to maximize sales. What you end up with is a ton of undifferentiated products hyped by overzealous marketers, which leads to confusion among shoppers."

The team recruited friends from all disciplines — cancer and brain researchers, chemical engineers, lawyers, and medical doctors — to hone in on the research without the baggage of preconceived notions. In essence, Maelove is one huge — and very successful — science experiment.

First, the team leverages decades of clinical research. "There are abundant and widely accepted published works that show which compounds work well for maintaining skin health. These are the tried-and-true ingredients recommended by every dermatologist and [which] are available in both over-the-counter and prescription strengths (the classic ingredients like retinol, AHA, certain vitamins and peptides, etc)." In short, these are the ingredients that should work.

Then, Maelove uses artificial intelligence to scan millions of self-reported product reviews — what Kim refers to as empirical real-world data — to determine which ingredients correlated with success and which to avoid. These are the ingredients that, according to users, do work. 

Finally, the company finds human volunteers to test the formula to verify its effectiveness. So, instead of building a business around variety for the sake of variety, Maelove focuses on making one line of stellar skincare that can work for all skin types. 

This radically affordable luxury skincare line is the real deal. Maelove makes some of the best and some of the cheapest skincare products that I've found. And while I don't often get to stick to my own skincare routine as a product reviewer, I've surprised myself by preferring to use the cheaper Maelove products over luxury skincare I often test for work because they're simple, gentle, and effective. 

I recommend Maelove to everyone who asks me for recommendations because it works for all skin types and doesn't cost much, but skincare is also a notoriously subjective experience. What works for me may not work for you — even a skincare line built to cater to every skin type. Luckily, Maelove has a 100-day, 100% money-back guarantee, so you're not risking much if you want to try it.

You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here . Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at [email protected] .

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Has Leica just made its best camera ever?

Leica has just launched the camera I've always wanted – the Leica SL3 is like nothing else out there

Leica has just announced its finest camera ever, the Leica SL3 – a powerhouse full-frame camera with a 60MP sensor, 8K 30p video, phase detect autofocus… and an app that downloads images to your phone in just seconds . 

The Leica SL2 was a tough sell; while it was a beautiful camera, it had an uncomfortable amount in common with the Panasonic Lumix S1R – not least the sluggish contrast-based autofocus system. However, the new SL3 remedies both of those points by being technologically unique and introducing hybrid phase detect AF – which means its substance is now in line with its style. 

You can read my Leica SL3 review for my full thoughts on the camera's performance, but we're looking at a real monster in terms of specs. 

Its triple-resolution sensor offers 60.3MP, 36.4MP or 18.5MP shooting, to accommodate your workflow and output needs, with a Dual Basis ISO that covers ISO50-100,000. 

That sensor resolution is also good for 8K and C8K (uncropped, unlike the Sony A7R V ) up to 30p, offering H.265, ProRes, L-Log, timecode interface and a full-size HDMI port – all of which should make video shooters very happy.

The body is fully weather-sealed, with IP54 certification, and works in temperatures as extreme as 14°F / -10°C to 104°F / 40°C – making it a legitimate professional tool. In fact, Leica told me a story of a shooter in the Arctic who was shooting in -58°F / -50°C conditions and the camera was still working!

Plenty of improvements have been made from the Leica SL2, including the addition of a tilting screen, the physical buttons being shifted from the left of the rear LCD to the right (for one-handed operation), and the addition of a CFexpress Type B slot to complement the SD card. 

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And for anyone who beams photos straight to their phone for editing and sharing, the Leica Fotos app has been radically improved, now offering ridiculous speeds: it can transfer a 60MB DNG file via WiFi in 2 seconds, and via cable in less than 1 second! This is a big deal for me personally, particularly given how bad other brands' phone apps are.

The Leica SL3 is available now, priced $6,995 / £5,920 / AU$11,690 body only. Check out my Leica SL3 verdict to see if it's worth the price!

You might be interested in the best Leica cameras , along with the best Leica M lenses and best Leica SL lenses .

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The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine ,  PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine ,  N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine ,  Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show . He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.

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Is It Better to Rent or Buy? A Financial Calculator.

By Mike Bostock ,  Shan Carter ,  Archie Tse and Francesca Paris May 10, 2024

The choice between buying a home and renting one is among the biggest financial decisions that many adults make. But the costs of buying are more varied and complicated than for renting, making it hard to tell which is a better deal. To help you answer this question, our calculator, which was updated in May 2024 to reflect current tax law, takes the most important costs associated with buying or renting and compares the two options. Note that the “winning choice” is the one that makes more financial sense over the long run, not necessarily what you can afford today. And there are plenty of reasons you might want to rent or buy that are not financial — all we can help you with is the numbers.

To view this feature, please use a newer browser like Chrome , Firefox or Internet Explorer 9 or later.

The calculator keeps a running tally of the most common expenses of owning and renting. It also takes into account something known as opportunity cost — for example, the return you could have earned by investing your money. (Instead of spending it on a down payment, for example.) The calculator assumes that the profit you would have made in your investments would be taxed as long-term capital gains and adjusts the bottom line accordingly. The calculator tabulates opportunity costs for all parts of buying and renting. All figures are in current dollars.

Tax law regarding deductions can have a significant effect on the relative benefits of buying. The calculator assumes that the house-related tax provisions in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 will expire after 2025, as written into law. Congress might, however, extend the cuts in their original form, or extend and modify them. You can use the toggle to see how your results may vary if the tax cuts are renewed in full, to get a sense of how big the tax impact might be on your decision.

Initial costs are the costs you incur when you go to the closing for the home you are purchasing. This includes the down payment and other fees.

Recurring costs are expenses you will have to pay monthly or yearly in owning your home. These include mortgage payments; condo fees (or other community living fees); maintenance and renovation costs; property taxes; and homeowner’s insurance. A few items are tax deductible, up to a point: property taxes; the interest part of the mortgage payment; and, in some cases, a portion of the common charges. The resulting tax savings are accounted for in the buying total. If your house-related deductions are similar to or smaller than the standard deduction, you’ll get little or no relative tax savings from buying. If your house-related deductions are large enough to make itemizing worthwhile, we only count as savings the amount above the standard deduction.

Opportunity costs are calculated for the initial purchase costs and for the recurring costs. That will give you an idea of how much you could have made if you had invested your money instead of buying your home.

Net proceeds is the amount of money you receive from the sale of your home minus the closing costs, which includes the broker’s commission and other fees, the remaining principal balance that you pay to your mortgage bank and any tax you have to pay on profit that exceeds your capital gains exclusion. If your total is negative, it means you have done very well: You made enough of a profit that it covered not only the cost of your home, but also all of your recurring expenses.

Initial costs include the rent security deposit and, if applicable, the broker’s fee.

Recurring costs include the monthly rent and the cost of renter’s insurance.

Opportunity costs are calculated each year for both your initial costs and your recurring costs.

Net proceeds include the return of the rental security deposit, which typically occurs at the end of a lease.

From The Upshot: What the Data Says

Analysis that explains politics, policy and everyday life..

10 Years, 100 Stories: Ten years ago, The New York Times introduced the Upshot. Here’s a collection of its most distinctive work  from the last decade.

Rent or Buy? : The choice between buying a home and renting one is among the biggest financial decisions that many adults make. Our calculator can help .

Employment Discrimination: Researchers sent 80,000 fake résumés to some of the largest companies in the United States. They found that some discriminated against Black applicants much more than others .

N.Y.C. Neighborhoods: We asked New Yorkers to map their neighborhoods and to tell us what they call them . The result, while imperfect, is an extremely detailed map of the city .

Dialect Quiz:  What does the way you speak say about where you’re from? Answer these questions to find out .