Alicia asked, “10 years ago, what were your plans and goals for the future?“
In 2001, I was engaged and in my final year of undergraduate school. I graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in English one semester later. If you would have asked me to envision my future then, I would have said that I planned to get both my Masters and my PhD – probably in Counseling or Family Studies. I wanted to speak at conferences, to travel the world, to write books, to do research (nerd that I am), and to teach at the university level. Oh, and I wanted to have kids.
It was kind of an afterthought, exactly like that. I knew I wanted to have kids…but I didn’t realize that becoming a mother would overshadow everything else. (But not in a bad way). Motherhood didn’t steal away my dreams. Nor did it really change them. And yet…it changed everything. I’m the same, but I’m different. I’m better (for sure).
Parenthood is a paradox. Indescribable…but wonderful.
My life is richer now, my dreams are more vivid. It’s like I was living in black & white…and then…poof…I landed in a world of color. Just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz.
What were YOUR plans + goals for the future ten years ago?
***Thanks so much for your birthday wishes. (If you still have a question, go back and add yours – I will answer).
