Starting Now.
Where do you want to be in 10 years? When 2020 hits what do you want to look back and see?
Only one full day left of 2010.
It just seems like yesterday it was “Y2K”. It just seems like yesterday I gave birth to a baby boy who is now 10 years old.
2000
2010 (Photographer)
Most days, I have peace about what I did with my last 10 years. I didn’t do nearly everything I hoped but I did graduate from college. I stayed married to an amazing man. I overcame borderline personality disorder. I birthed two children. I stood by Brent encouraging him as he left the 9-5 world to start his own business. I graduated from the Second City Conservatory. I forgave people who hurt me. Brent and I made a short film. I listened at times when I wanted to talk. I wrote a full length screen play that sits on the shelf. :-/ I traveled to India, China, and South Africa assisting Brent in the making of a documentary. I sort of overcame a fear and let my children play in the ocean. I gained, lost, gained, lost, and maintained weight. I became an ASCM certified personal trainer and an RKC. I tried to teach my kids the importance of helping others. I competed in a few figure competitions. I occasionally held my tongue. I started two blogs. I homeschooled my kids full time one year and now homeschool part time. I began competing in taekwondo. Sometimes, I even loved when I wanted to hate. That is, by far, the hardest.
I write this NOT to brag because it did take 10 years. I write this because I want to reflect on and remember the things I did accomplish and the good choices I did make because there were also a hell of a lot of disappointments, failures, bad choices, selfish moments, hurtful words, bursts of anger, the death of friends, wasted hours on the internet, disease, rejections, hurts, and broken dreams. And I got a minivan. Truth be told, in the beginning of year 2000 I would have never dared to dream the decade would turn around as it did. In year 2000, I was newly married, depressed, and in the middle of an unplanned pregnancy trying to finish college. I was going to therapy 3x a week just so I wouldn’t jump off a bridge. Literally.
Yet, I did the best I could believing that God had a plan for me. He did. It may not look how I imagined it but He had a plan.
And…
He still does. For me and for you.
2011
It’s just around the corner.
It’s a new year and we are moving into the next decade. In 10 years, I want to look back and see a full life. A life full of faith. Even if things don’t work out as hoped, I want to say I wasn’t afraid to dream. And I have no intention of passively letting the next 10 years go by and stand on the eve of 2020 wondering what happened. I want to be present. I want to breath in life with every cell of this aging body of mine. There are 10 518 975.3 minutes in the next 20 years. Ten million, five hundred and eighteen thousand, nine hundred and seventy five minutes. Each. One. A. Gift.
And I’m going to do my best to treat each one as so.
In the next 10 years, I’m going to….
Breath deeper.
Listen better.
Risk bigger.
Trust greater.
Forgive faster.
Love harder.
Starting now.
Everything else will fall into place.
What about you??? When you look back on the last 10 years are you happy with the choices you made? Don’t be shy, I’d love to hear your accomplishments be they big or small! What are your dreams for the future??? Where would you like to be in 10 years?
Happy New Year!!!!
Hugs and High Fives,
Jenn
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This is my (almost) sane quest for insane health. Let's 
This is a beautiful post and did not come off “braggy” at all. I know I tell you a lot but your fam is gorge.
The last 10 yrs have been full of ups & downs, 2 babies (one uplanned!) finding my love of running . . . there have been mainly good choices but bad ones too.
In the next 10 yrs, I’d like to have my 3rd and final child (a girl maybe??), finish my degree and hopefully be almost debt free. Debt is a bitch!
I hear you about the debt and I’m so with ya on that one!
Okay, this is creepy. I have already started writing a post I planned to post later tonight or tomorrow that shares a very similar mindset. Your words are so beautiful and express it all so well.
And you have every right to brag. You had a great 10 years, despite those tough times that inevitably were mixed in. Here’s to a fabulous next decade! Trusting and living in God’s path.
Thank you, Tina. I’ve very much enjoyed your thoughts on this new year as well.
A great reflection. No, not braggy at all. Whew, a decade is a huge hunk to look at. I think I can only take the next year, maybe the next week. 2011 is a big birthday year for me so I’m looking at it in terms of what that means.
I hope it’s a great one for all of us!
(and I’ll let you know if I come to LA!)
Yes, please do let me know. I’d love to meet you in real life!
I love your list at the end, I can totally relate. This year – and decade – is going to be a time for living bigger and better!
Amen!
You are so incredibly inspiring!
Congrats on all you have accomplished! And happy new year!
Thank you and happy new year to you!
Great post Jenn! You should be so proud of your last 10 years…I mean if you didn’t get to experience the up and downs for the last 10 years you wounldn’t be where you are today.
My last 10 years have been a lot harder than I could have ever expected. I lost my sister to cancer, went through job loses, financial strains, and some how lost who I was in the processes. In the last 5 years however, I have managed to pick up the pieces, stay married for 11 years, had a baby, graduated from college, and found the road to better health. In the next 10 years I hope to have finished my second degree, get into those one pair of jeans in the back of closet I have been hanging onto, and live life to the fullest.
Have a wonderful New Year!
You’ve had some tough times for sure but you’ve persevered and I know you’ll continue to persevere. xoxo
Your post reminded me of many of the same accomplishments I have made these last 10 years….10 years ago I was newly married and in therapy 2x a week. By God’s grace I am still happily married to the same man (there were many days when I didn’t think that would happen!) We had 3 unplanned pregnancies resulting in the 3 most beautiful gifts I could have every imagined. My life is stable and full which is something I never thought was in the cards for me. Thanks for the reminder of how blessed we are and how God has a special plan for each of us. I tend to freak out over what the future holds but today I want to just be thankful for where I am.
I loved this post, and it isn’t braggy at all to talk about your accomplishments. I think it is super important to do.
In the last 10 years I’ve gotten two degrees, almost a third, lived in or traveled to 48 of the 50 states and several foreign countries, and learned more about myself than I thought was possible.
I want to make some goals for the new year, but it is so up in the air for me that it’s hard. I like your intentions though. I might steal some. 😉
I think you’ll win a Nobel Peace prize or something in the next 10 years.
you have no idea how much i needed this post right now! I’m in the middle of a big funk and this just reminds me that i can wallow in it and get nowhere or stand up and be strong. Thank you for sharing your family with us and being an inspiration!!! I can’t wait to hug you at Fitbloggin’!
Beautiful post! I love that you are looking back at the past decade! Y2K seems so far away… And, yes, lots has happened in my life as well. I am in a much better place today than I was 10 years ago, and I’m very thankful for that. It’s good to remember how far we have come…
Wishing you a happy & healthy 2011!
P.S.: I’m borrowing this:
In the next 10 years, I’m going to….
Breath deeper.
Listen better.
Risk bigger.
Trust greater.
Forgive faster.
Love harder.
Starting now.
Everything else will fall into place.
Wow, you sure did accomplish a lot in 10 years, I am kinda jealous. I thought I would have accomplished a lot more but not so much. I graduated college, worked, traveled alot, lived in four states but when I think of the age I am, I thought I would be more settled than I am right now. Oh well, here’s to the next 10!
Ummm…you must be thinking of a different person. YOU HAVE done a TON in the last 10 years! xoxo
This is an absolutely beautiful post and so inspiring. You have so much to be proud of and a lot to look forward to in the next 10 years.
I’m such a pussy, I teared up a bit reading this!
O man, I might so a post reflecting on what happened in this decade for me (lost a mom, lost too much weight, dropped out of college to go to culinary school, rehab….told ya it was juicy!).
I think you have every right to brag. I dont know if I’ll ever get the balls to have kids. That in itself is huge. Anyhow, I wish you awesomer 10 years to come!
I think you would surprise yourself Eden. 😉 Here’s to 2011!
jenn, I really loved this post! I hadn’t been really thinking about how it is an end of a decade. You have spent your time incredibly well, and are a graceful and accomplished woman. I’m very grateful to have you as a friend all these years. oxxo
Likewise.
What a beautiful post!
Sunday will be Hubby’s and my 10th anniversary. For a while we were thinking that we HAD to do something special because, after all, it is a bit of a milestone. But we realized that the best way to celebrate is to do what we love best; just spend time together, with our kids. Maybe go for a walk if the weather’s nice.
Because over the past decade I have come to realize what matters, and learn more about who I really am. I’ve gotten (and stayed) married, had 2 kids, discovered that those kids are Autistic, and , because of that, learned how to be a good mom, wife, and person. I left a career I trained nearly my entire life for, and am coming back to it in a slightly different way (I am no longer an actress, but I still love to TEACH acting).
love it! man….10 years ago? I was sitting on the couch with my newly adopted 5 lb baby girl. We had only been home from getting her a few days and I had fallen asleep in between her 2 hour feedings(she was 9 weeks premature). I remember wanting to stay up to see if the world collapsed but really didn’t care because I was breathing in the sweetness of our new daughter.
What have I accomplished?? Became a mother 2x through the miracle of adoption. Celebrated 15 years of marriage to the same amazing soul. Overcome my binge-eating disorder. got my depression under control with the right treatment. overcame fears and inhibitions by getting certified to teach RPM and Body Pump. Created and Closed my dream business. Developed confidence by letting God be in control. learned the power of NOT judging. learned that I have to really work on NOT judging. Love is always the answer. In 10 years?? I just want to look back with no regrets.
thanks for letting me share!
Thank YOU for sharing. You are amazing!!!!
You have done so many cool things!! I still want to see the documentary you guys made. I like your “resolutions” too. I think I can boil all mine down into 1: Be patient.
As for what I’ve accomplished… it’s funny but life is 100% not what I thought it was going to turn out like. But it’s 100% better than I could have ever planned it. It’s a good thing God is in charge and not me!
I love this post. You have had a great decade. You are definitely not the same sister I had 10 years ago! I’m glad for the past 10 years because I gained a great brother-in-law and 2 fun nephews. Just think, In the next ten years you’ll have a son in college…
Beautiful post.
The past 10 years have been a blur. I had four pregnancies and three children, lived in 3 homes and one apartment, watched two airlines that my husband worked for close their doors, and watched time and time, again, some AMAZING doors open when others have been closed. And time and time, again, I’ve met some amazing people/angels along the way.