As I write this, it’s about 8:30pm on December 31, 2009… I am about to say goodbye to a year… and a decade. I am one of those people who have a soft spot for memories, stories, images, memoribilia, etc. Partner that with the fact that I have a beyond-fantasic memory, and I can’t help but feel nostalgic.
I thought this would be a good time to reflect back on the past decade. 10 years ago, I was 22 years old. I think that most people around my age would agree that the “Two Thousands” decade was very significant. It was the decade where we found ourselves becoming adults, going after the things we dreamed about in high school, accomplishing some things, failing at others, and realizing new likes and dislikes. This was the decade where we became who we are.
I know exactly what I was doing on December 31, 1999. I had just celebrated my first wedding anniversary. My husband, and most of my family and friends were sick with a horrible flu that was plaguing Michigan. For some reason, I was spared that flu. Since everyone was sick, we just stayed home. We watched SLC Punk, pausing it at midnight to watch the MTV coverage of the ball dropping in Times Square.
I was on break from school, and had just finished a semester of 25 credits. I wasn’t totally sure what I was going to end up doing, but I knew it would involve marketing. I had recently become an aunt; my nephew Caden was born in July of 1999. I envisioned myself living a pretty normal life through the next decade – a regular job, a family, buying a house…
Boy, was I wrong!!!
Over the past ten years, I ended up moving back and forth across the country four times (hello, Alaska!). I started my own business, my divorce will be final soon, and, no, I didn’t have any kids of my own during that decade. (however, I am extremely close to my nephews).
I look back on all the stuff that has happened over the past ten years and I am somewhat amazed that I made it out alive. I’ve survived tornadoes, rainstorms, the heat and humidity of Michigan summers, living in the Arctic, volcano eruptions, tsunami warnings, driving through white-outs in the mountains, normal coughs and colds, serious ailments involving hospital stays, blood transfusions, and even learned to give myself B12 shots.
And then there were awesome things such as learning how to be a great cook, finding out I was really good at scrapbooking, learning how to create websites, creating Indie Biz Chicks, and realizing that this is what I was truly meant to do…
Over the past ten years, I learned a lot about myself…. About who I am, what I like, what I don’t like, what I want, and what I don’t want.
During the past decade, I grew up. I became me.
Ten years from now, I will be (gulp) 42 and about to welcome in 2020. I have no idea where I will be, or what I will have done in the next decade. I’m not even going to guess. It will be a waste of time, as I will probably be totally wrong.
One thing I do know for sure: it will be totally amazing.
I loved reading this post- you’ve had an eventful decade! Funnily enough, I was most surprised to learn that you scrapbook. I do to. : )
Yeah, it was kind of an eventful decade – but it’s better to have an eventful one than a boring one! and yeah – I love scrapbooking… Ali Edwards is one of my favorites. Her blog is amazing! https://www.aliedwards.com
What an awesome post Crissy! You know I think a lot more marketers could do to put some perspective on business and life and think more in terms of long-term.
I love thinking about where I might be in 10 years (except for the age part – I’ll be 44) because like you I feel like it’s going to be an amazing ride!