I woke up on Saturday morning to a flurry of posts on Facebook about the “10-Year Aging Challenge.” (A tad aggressive, don’t you think? LOL) I’d prefer the “Then vs. Now Challenge,” so let’s call it that! Originally, it was more of a Facebook thing, with people posting their first profile picture from when they first joined alongside their current one to see how they’ve changed since Facebook came into the world.
Before you knew it, it was transitioning to Instagram, Twitter and almost every other social media platform out there!
As much as I wasn’t going to do it, I was bored and figured, “Why not?”
So, here I am – from 2008, when I just graduated high school, to 2018, just months away from turning 29 (30 is looming…)! Ahhhh!
Ten years ago, I have to say, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, was generally not healthy and not fully confident in who I was. Fast forward ten years, and while life isn’t perfect, I definitely feel like I have a better handle on things. I’ve graduated from both high school and college and have certainly learned a lot about myself both from my own self-discovery and the people I spend most of my time with, both inside and outside of the office!
I have a job I love, am surrounded by family and friends who always know how to pick me up when I’m feeling down and started making health a priority for myself.
While I still love food – and the occasional glass of wine or cocktail – I know how to enjoy in moderation and also make sure to go to the gym or go for extremely long walks at least four to five days a week.
Now
Then…
Reflecting over the past 10 years made me realize that the change can be both physical and mental. The two often go hand-in-hand. If you’re struggling with either one, go on a nice long walk. Get lunch with a friend. Do what you need to do to make yourself better.
I think if there were two words that described that transformation – and that still guide my life philosophy today – it’s “be better.”
It’s a simple goal and one that can be realized in many ways. Give it a shot. It just might work for you!