To begin, I happened to see the latest issue of 'Time' magazine, which you can find online here http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1942834,00.html, which denotes the 00's as the worst decade in recent history. They go so far as to call it, "The Decade from Hell", "The Lost Decade", and "The Decade of Broken Dreams". However, as I scrolled through their picture summary of all the horrible things that happened between 2000 and 2009, I could not help but be offended that this span in history is being labeled so negatively.
For me, my friends, and fellow late '70s/early '80s kids, this is the decade where we have really grown up, and I don't necessarily think this is a bad thing. In fact, if I were putting together a slide show of the decade for me, here's what I would include. I think these things have shaped me into a better person and helped me realize what kind of person I want to be going forward. So, no, I do not consider it the decade from hell, but rather, the decade that has largely shaped my future as an adult in America. Take this 'Time' - here's my top 10 things from the 00s.
10. Graduation from high school - June 10, 2000
You got it, the right of passage from child to quasi-adult definitely begins with finishing high school. Considering only about 75% of Georgia students actually accomplish this, I say the decade definitely started out with a win.
9. Started college - August 2000
Wow, the University of Georgia is definitely a common thread through this decade for me, and I don't think that's a bad thing. From the early days of Russell Hall and Quincy Carter, the fact my ideas were challenged and views were broadened make this a big point of success. Plus, the undergraduate experience from August 2000 - 2003, instilled a love of Athens and gave me plenty of opportunities to make mistakes without any too-terrible consequences.
8. Got married - September 6, 2003
I probably should have mentioned Joe first on this list, but truthfully, we didn't start dating until the week after I graduated from high school. But, his influence on my life has certainly shaped this decade. Sure enough, after years of togetherness, we tied the knot in 2003. We were young and a little anxious to jump into adulthood, but it's still probably the best thing I've done the whole decade. I'm blessed enough to spend every day with my best friend who never fails to make me laugh and appreciate things I would never notice on my own. Maybe he needs to be moved up to #1 of the decade. . . . .
7. Got a real job - March 2004
The transition from young adult into full fledged grown-up land is not complete unless you have the joy of getting a real job. I'm talking about where you get an offer letter, benefits, and the mysterious thing known as a 401k. I was overjoyed to get a position as an associate underwriter with Hartford Life Insurance Company in 2004, and given the nature of the position, not much else happened until I left the company in 2007. Believe it or not, the glory of a real job can consume much of your life, or in this case 3 years, without much big picture stuff to show for it.
6. Graduated with a Master's degree - December 2006
I can't blame my non-existent life all on Hartford during the mid-00's, since I was also going to grad school two nights a week in Athens. But, I think it was the challenges of that time that helped Joe and I both to realize the emptiness of suburban life for us. So, while this marked the completion of one thing, this was definitely a transition point for me.
5. Started my PhD - January 2007
Note, I just said this was a transition point. In 2007, I quit that real job, and went back to school full-time. Apparently, Athens had quite the pull on Joe and I both!
4. Bought a house/sold a house/bough a house - August 2003/May 2007/December 2008
This may be the only thing I have in common with 'Time' list, though, luckily, my experiences as a home owner are much more positive than what they discussed. Though the more lenient lending standards have come under much criticism, they allowed Joe and I to purchase our first home in Suwanee, GA right before we got married. We were even able to sell it for $45,000 more than we paid for it four years later when we moved. Then, we rented for about 18 months before buying our second home.
3. Spent a month in China - May 2008
Growing up often means realizing you're not the center of attention or the universe, and this is no more apparent that when you travel internationally. Going to other countries, especially those that are not as wealthy as the U.S. really helped me to realize how much God has blessed me in my life. I had the freedom to marry when I wanted, select my own profession, and move as I wanted. The blessings and insight I gained from this trip have been amazing.
2. Completed Financial Peace University - July 2008
Joe and I went through FPU from June to July the summer of 2008, and this changed our marriage for the better more than anything else in our lives. God definitely used the messages of financial responsibility to show us how we need to be diligent about using what we have in our life to give to others and make the most of what we have been given. I firmly believe if you can effectively communicate about money in a marriage, you will be able to communicate about most anything else.
1. Had a baby - June 6, 2009
No journey to adulthood is complete without the addition of a baby! It's so easy in your 20's to be self-centered and make decisions based on your own hopes and desires, but wow, once a new little ones comes into the picture, that's all out the window. I continue to be amazed at how being a mom has softened me, made me more empathetic, and how upon seeing Mitchell for the first time, I was completely sold out, unwaveringly, devoted just to him. With him being so new, I can't help but look forward to all that is to come.
So, when you look back at the 00's, is it the decade of hell, or as for me, a decade of promise and God's faithfulness?
