Today is the last day of 2010.  (No surprises there.)

The fact that 2010 is ending, got me thinking about how it began.

Remember all the hoopla when we heralded 2000 in? Celebrations worldwide were huge, the word “millennium” appeared everywhere – it was the beginning of the 21st century and of the 3rd millennium! (I love the sound of that “3rd millennium”; it’s futuristic and retro all at the same time. Oh, and remember Y2K? Talk about retro, that was something – or not.)

My little walk down memory lane inspired me to make a personal timeline of the past decade. (A very nerdy, life-coachy thing to do, but that’s just the kind-of gal I am.) I decided to focus on major events – turns out there were tons of them. 

Really, it floored me, so many events and activities from a time in my life, which I thought would be quite uneventful. You see, I am a part of that baby-boomer generation, who as teens in the 60’s and 70’s were bombarded daily with messages not to trust anyone over 30, and to believe that life was pretty much downhill after 40, and all but over after 50, so how was I to know that my 40’s and 50’s would be my best years yet? 

How? Why?

Realizing how warm and wonderful the last 10 years have been for me, led me to think about how and why the decade turned out so well. Surprisingly, it did not include the most exciting events of my life – that honor still goes to the birth of my sons and being their Mom, and yet the decade is a still a clear winner.

And, just as surprising, the past ten years harbored some of my most heartbreaking moments: relationships crumbled, mentors passed on and some major embarrassing moments evolved (thank you for not asking), and yet, the 2000’s remain tops with me.

Perhaps, you’re thinking, this decade looks good, because the preceding ones were horrible, but that’s not true either, the preceding decades were filled with family, friends, fun, jobs, and achievements.

So what was the difference?

I think the difference was, the past decade was more me, not about me, but more me.  Me – failing, flailing and flourishing as I went.  And, me fully admitting my dreams, big and small, and, then attempting to make them real.

• I did more big scary things than ever before
• and many more teeny tiny tedious things,
• and more than ever before all of them were aimed directly at my dreams.  

But, the most important difference was – I believed. Really believed, at first just for a second, and then later for days, weeks, months, and years that the things I really wanted were okay to want and worth believing in. I believed in me. It was a scary and brave thing to do.

All of which brings me to this moment – the last day of the 1st decade of the 3rd millennium and a life filled with wonderful, warm, witty and wise family and friends – old and new, here and there.    

And, now, at the risk of sounding a bit too Tinker Bell-ish, I would like to wish you, my readers, clients, family and friends, a very Happy New Year and a decade full of wishes and dreams and the courage to believe in yourself enough to make them happen.

 

 

Aww, what the heck, it is the beginning of the 2nd decade of the 3rd millennium, I say we Tinker Bell it all the way – all together now . . .

I do believe, I do believe, I do believe in me!”

My work here is done. 

Happy New Year,

Patrice,

Wishful Thinking Works