The Impact of Ten Years
When you’re a kid, ten years ago seems to last forever but everything feels like a blur.
When you’re in your 20s, ten years ago starts to fly by and the details of those years start to come into focus.
When you’re in your 30s, it’s the first time that ten years ago feels like just yesterday and the memories flood your brain.
Maybe that’s because 10 years ago in your 30s was when you first started coming into your own.
Ten years ago, I started on a course that would change my life in a way I’d never dreamed up and open doors I never thought were possible. Those doors led to opportunities, yes, but most importantly, those doors opened up my heart to get to know someone I never knew was inside all along.
On August 13, 2013, I started my first “job” in a place that only a few people in my circles had experienced themselves, New York City.
Growing up in Central Wisconsin, New York was a new world to me. My town of 18,000 suddenly felt like a crumb in my new world of eight million. When I first moved, I tried to keep in groups I was familiar with because that’s what we did at home. I used to show up to bars in the city and try to impress people by drinking two beers at a time. Drinking as much as I could was cool to me then, because that’s what we did at home. But very quickly, I realized that maybe the world had more out there, regardless of where someone grows up. Moving to New York had me experience life in an entirely new light.
In Wisconsin, I lived a very happy, blessed life. I lived happily, but I was also very comfortable. New York was my opportunity to challenge that comfortability, even if it meant I wasn’t always happy. Nine moves and four states later, I may not be happy every day but I continue to seek challenges in pursuit of long-term happiness. All it took was my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see how I could conquer those challenges. It’s been a rollercoaster but man, am I proud to say I’ve done what I’ve done; I’ve met people I would have never met; I’ve tried things I would have never thought to try; I’ve said no to things I wouldn’t have had the courage to before. New York made me, me.
At 31, I now understand that I know myself better than anyone does. Before, I was a 21-year-old girl who let myself be treated in ways I shouldn’t have been treated. I was a 21-year-old girl who applied for things I never thought I’d have a chance at. I was a 21-year-old girl that fell victim to the notion that “It probably won’t happen to me,” simply because I was “just me.”
Ten years later, I’m proud to say that I’m not “just me.” I’m simply me.
To the me that still stumbles.
To the me that doesn’t stop challenging myself.
To the me that disobeys the norm sometimes.
To the me that understands I’m a weirdo, but accepts it.
To the me that figured out life is all about figuring it out.
Ten years ago today, my memory can still feel my eyes open to the possibilities. I opened myself to a world I didn’t know existed. This all sounds cheesy, but I hope you’re still with me. Ten years ago, I was scared shitless and I went for it. If you’re wondering if you should go for it, ten years from now you will be thankful you did.
He’s retired now but Dave, IOU. Somehow you showed me that no plan is a good plan, without even knowing that you showed me that. Somehow you showed me that I am capable of doing anything I want to in this life and that limits simply do not exist. IOU for introducing “just me,” to the me I am proud to be. And for that, I will always be grateful.
