A Decade of Accomplishments

Looking back through the past ten years, it takes you on a strange journey. You think about how much has really changed and how much you really have accomplished. It shows you what has been missing and what maybe you could have done. But it also makes you hopeful for the next decade. Another ten years to accomplish a whole lot more.

When I looked back at my last decade, it was a whole lot of ups and downs. Growing moments and many things that I am proud that I can say I accomplished.

VIA

// Bought my first car
So this might be pushing the decade things just a little...But still so proud that I bought my first car with all my hard earned money. It was great knowing I worked hard so my mom didn't have to and I got what I wanted because I worked for it.

// Graduated high school
All the stuff I got into in high school, proud of myself. Managed field hockey, 3 jobs and a pretty active social life. Got into 3 ish colleges. One of which I accepted and met my future husband. Good choices.

//Joined a sorority
Said I would never do it. Said it wasn't for me. I was nervous as I started out but am so glad I stuck with it. Some of my best friends are from Alpha Xi Delta and my experiences in that house truly shaped me, good and bad. And without my sisters, going back to school after losing my mom would have been that much harder.

// Graduated college
Four short months before I graduated my mom passed away and I wasn't sure I wanted/could go back to school. My family and Brian convinced me it was what my mom would have wanted. But it wasn't to say I was an emotional mess and I am still not sure how I ended up crossing that stage and graduating.

// Took in a lovable kitty
My Lily baby. What can I say? My sister called and convinced me to save this kitty who was found outside in the freezing cold without her mom. She makes every single day interesting and I wouldn't change any of it.

// Lived by myself
If you want to really grow up and figure things out for yourself, live on your own. It was scary at times, humbling at others. I was doing it, being a real grown up with rent, a job and doing it pretty well.

// Started this blog
What started as a way to write out my feelings and help me deal with life without my mom has turned into so much more. It isn't something that you can just show up to sometimes. It takes real work and though and effort. I

// Got married
Being in a college relationship isn't always easy. Being in a long distance relationship isn't always easy. That's what makes our relationship truly wonderful. We worked hard at it the past 9 years and I am so proud we have come this far and so happy to be married to Brian. This might be my biggest accomplishment in another ten years!

// Survived credit card debt
It truly is a survival. I am so glad all of the credit card debt is paid off because it was such a burden on our finances. We already have a plan to teach our kids properly about their finances.

// Lived life without my mom
This will continue to be a huge accomplishment. It involves hard days that I have to get through and knowing that all the big moments, she won't be there for. It's going on without her. It was laughing again without her. It was getting married without her there on my wedding day. And it will be having kids without her being here and so many other moments. To still be smiling and living life without her, a huge accomplishment.

Thinking about the past decade, what are some of your accomplishments?

Side note: Also, proud I accomplished the fine taste of wine