Well, it’s great to meet you here at the end of the DECADE.

I hope you have all had a Merry Christmas or happy holiday, whatever you were celebrating! If you did not get off work, I hope that you were able to spend some good moments with people you love at some point in the past week.

My family and I celebrated Christmas in NY, and then I went to a wedding in Nebraska this past weekend. Both were wonderful, and my soul is refreshed.

As we close out 2019, everyone is reminding me through social media that 2020 is not just a new year, but it’s a new decade. My friend Sarah Gaines did an exercise for herself last week in which she listed each year of the decade and described each as “The year I…”

I thought it was a simple yet profound idea — a good reflection exercise without having to write loads and loads of words. I tried it out myself on the plane ride back from Nebraska, and although it was difficult to remember how my life was 8+ years ago, once the wheels were turning, I got eMoTiOnAL with gratitude for how much goodness and positive change God has granted me in this decade.

Try it out and tag @sarahjgaines if you so please! Sarah would be so happy you did it too.

The way I did this: Although each of these years was filled with a plethora of people, places, and things, I chose the most defining event(s) or themes of each year. (I really thank my past self for taking so many photos — I do appreciate all the memories today.)

2010: The year I starred as Jasmine in my school production of Aladdin, Jr. and graduated 8th grade LOL

the “belly shirt” kills me

2011: The year I joined a dance company

2012: The year I developed an eating disorder

2013: The year I started my recovery and my blog 

so smol and also loved taking pics of food in the palm of my hand

2014: The year I graduated high school and started college at Boston University 

the selfie reputation begins

2015: The year I realized that Christ-centered friendships are deep, rich, and real

a knife-throwing, canyon-dropping, alligator-holding good time

2016: The year I studied abroad in Dublin, Ireland (also met Us the Duo on a cruise)

the most adventurous I’ve ever been

2017: The year I fell deeply in love with God and started DPT school

perhaps one of the best years of my life so far

2018: The year I experienced the deepest emotions I’ve ever felt in my life

definitely the hardest year of my life so far

2019: The year I gave and received great mercy and experienced the Lord making all things new

the year I challenged myself more

2020: The year in which I want to grow in obedience to God and fortitude in all the values I learned this past decade

I wrote this with honesty, and then I realized that the word “deep” comes up several times throughout the years. I guess this was a deep decade, and I’m sure there’s much deeper to dive this coming year (and decade).

And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”   – Luke 5:4

People ask what’s coming up this year in terms of post-DPT school, and my answer is, “I literally have no idea.” It’s one-day-at-a-time kind of thing. The unknown is vast and deep indeed, but there’s a chill of excitement and anticipation in that. The Lord’s will be done.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I hope you all have a fantastic time ringing in the New Year! Thank you for your support from the beginning of the decade until now and beyond.

So tell me:

2019 was the year that you…? (or do all 10 years if you so fancy!)

How has your holiday season been so far?

Do you have goals / anticipations for 2020?