I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this past decade has been one of so much change. Ten years is a long time. And, it's not really a very long time. Ten years ago, I had an 11 year old and a 14 year old. The oldest had just started high school. Now, they are 21 and 24 and the youngest is about to finish college. I’ve moved from my almost mid-40’s to my...ahem...almost mid-50’s.
Going from being the parents of children to the parents of teens to the parents of young adults has brought much growth and change and with that change has come reflection. A strong desire to “fix” what needs fixing and to find ways to feel strong and whole came with that.
As I did bounding box-jumps at a workout one day last week, my instructor said, “Bet you couldn’t do that a decade ago.” And she was right. Then, during yesterday’s class, she suggested we set our intention by thinking about the victories we’d had in that (workout) space. I know that working out is kind of “practice for the playing field of life,” so as I worked through that class, I started thinking about things I couldn’t (Or didn’t. Or wouldn’t) do a decade ago.
So, in no particular order, here are some of those things that I have done that I didn’t know I could do or never thought about doing before the 2010’s began:
Make a yearbook. Never thought about it, never wanted to and yet somehow I can’t imagine not doing it now.
Teach in a high school. Another thing I never thought I’d do, but here I am in my 10th year of doing it (actually started this in fall of 2009). And I might just almost sort of be getting the knack of it!
Produce videos. This may have been my college major, but here’s the truth: I wasn’t very good at it back then. Yes, technology has sure worked in my favor, plus I love the creative outlet I get with it.
Work out. Hard to talk about this without getting a little emotional. A decade ago, I occasionally tried some new form of exercise. I’d do it for a little while and then I’d be done. I had a bad back and would be laid up from it for a few days at least once a year. Six years ago, that changed. I don’t know what it was that changed. Community? New/stronger friendships? Accountability partner? But now, I can’t imagine my life without this as part of it. I’ve learned that my body is so much more capable of doing things that I ever gave it credit for. I’ve learned how to work through injury (not to ignore/exacerbate, but to work around it and not use it as an excuse) and how to come back after. I’ve learned not to quit.
Host/produce a podcast. How lucky am I to find a way to “play radio” and do some of the things I loved to do when I was much younger.
Friendships. This one also makes me get a little emotional. They say you’re lucky in your life if you find a community of people you can count on as friends. And I’m not sure of another time in my life when I knew I had a strong group of friends that genuinely has my back in the way I do right now.
Grad school classes in the summers. These classes have taught me so much about myself, aside from the content...dorm living is tolerable for about a week. But going to school is hard. It takes a lot out of a person and taking these classes each summer gives me a little reminder each year of what we ask of kids every day during the school year. A little empathy is never a bad thing.
Maintain really long streaks with apps. Looking at you, My Fitness Pal and Apple Watch. I have logged in to MFP 2,275 days in a row and closed all three rings on my Apple Watch every day since mid-June. These little things are my personal challenges to keep up with and help me keep my fitness goals in mind.
Deal with past hurts. This one sure is hard and important and is a definite work in progress.
Enjoy travel adventures with my husband. Our two big trips in the last two years makes me realize we have a lot of country and world to see together.
Learn to be with my husband without kids. I thought being empty nesters would be harder than it was, but I really do enjoy spending time with my husband and that we have things we enjoy apart from each other is great, too!
This past decade has been good for me in a lot of ways. Has it been easy? No. The world we live in is tough and going through rapid, scary changes. And there are times of crushing sadness. We have so much work to do to fix things. But I’m also proud of the changes I’ve made and am looking forward to what the next 10 bring as I keep my focus on getting stronger and better.
I listened to the last episode of the “Dolly Parton’s America” podcast during my walk today (my last of the decade!) and in it, she said, “If you’re at peace within yourself you can do good for other people.” So that’s what I’m going to keep working on as we move into tomorrow with a new day, a new month, a new year and a new decade.
