We have been in this new century for 24 years now and I still have difficulty understanding where the years have gone. In 2000, as that year was approaching many of us thought the world was going to end or transform in a negative way. As the ball was dropping, I had my large container of water and a flashlight in my hand, ready for what, I have no idea. Although, the world has been changing in negative ways, the way we navigate it is all that matters. Have you ever sat down to reflect on your life since this time? The good? The bad? Everything in between?
How about we all sit down and take a journey back to the 99 and 2000 (If you’re familiar with this Cash Money Records lyric). I want each of us to think back to what was going on in our life at that time and in the years leading to the present moment. Our navigation through life is not about where we started but about where we are going. It’s important to understand your beginnings because without them the ending is not the same. I know for many of us we had years before the 2000s that are important, but I figured we break it down to a shorter period in our memory.
Here’s a list of questions to think about to reflect on your personal past…
How old were you in 2000?
What’s one thing you were most excited about experiencing in the past 24 years?
Who or what has been your greatest motivation during this time?
What has been your least exciting moment/”regret” in these years?
What has been the most life changing event to happen? Why?
What about you, has changed the most from then to now?
What have been some of your insecurities in the years and are they still present?
What were some of your interest then compared to now?
To share some of my answers. In the year 2000, I was 12 years old. This was when I first began school transitions along with personal interests. I was all about art for six years into this time. My biggest motivation was to go to college and pursue a career in healthcare. I didn’t like science courses until I was in high school. I knew since the age of 7, this was my dream, so I worked extra hard. During these years was when I first started to understand the limited time we had on this Earth, so I was on a path of purpose. I do regret losing touch with some friends I had in the earlier years before a time with full access to cell phones and social media. The biggest change I can say is allowing myself to learn to love someone and get married. I was all about my personal life ‘plan’ and I had to learn to open myself up when I was ready.
In the end, no matter what the answers are for you, this is your story. The good and bad of this journey has gotten you to where you are. Now if you still feel like you have a lot of work to better yourself, that’s okay. With discovering your passions and with hard work you can do it. I like to leave you with a quote I have used for many years now. One said by the great Forest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you gonna get.” But when we reflect on the past we can see the great options that was in that box. This gives us room to try others.