I’m a different person then who I was 10 years ago.

10 years ago I was starting high school. I was a young innocent girl who had the whole world going for her. I was very naïve and believed that if I wanted people to like me I needed to be and act more like them. I thought that the “in” crowd was the ultimate place to be and that if I achieved getting into the “in” crowd and liked, I would be eternally grateful and an amazing person. I thought having a boyfriend who played football was a must and wouldn’t settle for anything less. I went to church, I was confirmed, I obeyed my parents (for the most part but, don’t tell them) and overall on the outside was the perfect little girl everyone dreamed of having. You can look at this description and say “well everyone was like that in high school” which for the most part is true.

I look at my life today and what I have learned and who I am today. Today I am a 25 year old Christian, wife, daughter, friend, and employee. In the last year or so I would say as a person I have grown more then I think I ever have in my life. I found the person I am. I am a shy, calm, quiet girl. I like to hang out with my husband, family and friends in moderation. I care for and love everyone tremendously. I am a woman of God a Christian who believes the Lord our God has EVERYTHING to do with our life and what happens in our life. I believe there is a silver lining in everything no matter how hard it is to see it sometime. I also believe that I don’t have to act or be like anyone for them to like me. I am ok with people no liking me and I am ok with not having everything or everyone. I feel that my changes in this past year, and I guess you could say past 10 years, have molded me into the person I have always wanted to be ME true to myself and my beliefs.

I look now on other people’s lives people from high school, old boyfriends, friends, co-workers and I feel a tinge of sadness that we are all not connected anymore and that we are not a part of each other’s lives to celebrate good news, to cry during bad news, and to just be there. But then I sit and I think of where we each are in our journey of life and realize none of that stuff matters nor does the stuff that happened matter all that matters is we each are happy, healthy, and feel that our part of this world is put together and lived by the grace of God. I may not have it all or be the person I thought I needed to be but…I’m okay with that.