As fall break approaches, we’re reminded of how fast 2019 has gone by. It feels like the 2019 New Year’s memes were just last week. Although there is still one month left to start on my resolutions, I don’t think Duolingo can teach me Spanish as fast as I would want to learn.
In the blink of an eye, we have skipped through the middle months and entered into the final stage of the year. Holidays are approaching — soon some of us will be back with our families for the end of the semester.
Thinking back on this year has reminded me that although 2019 has gone by quickly, there were plenty of great memories.
It’s the end of a decade. Myself and many others have grown up and experienced their most vivid memories in the 2010s. Most of my childhood memories were made in those beginning years, while experiencing adulthood for the first time took place near the end.
Moving onto the next decade, nothing is apparent. Many different opportunities may be in store as we enter 2020.
By looking introspectively, we can prepare our goals for the upcoming decade. What is it we want to accomplish — what types of standards do we set for ourselves in the next 10 years? Is there anything or nothing we are expecting from the upcoming years?
As indecisive as I am, it is difficult to know what to expect in 2020. I don’t even know what type of coffee I want in the morning. Most of the time I end up leaving Starbucks without a drink in hand because I couldn’t make up my mind.
Of course, there are things I expect for myself in the coming years. I should be able to do my taxes, have a general idea of what career goals I am striving toward and even adopt a cat or two.
A decade is a lot of time — much can change, including ourselves and the world around us.
My life looked very different 10 years ago. Technology looked different and my parents went from landlines to carrying around smartphones and asking how to operate Instagram and Snapchat.
For now, don’t put too much pressure on what the next 10 years will look like. It’s okay to be indecisive and to not know what comes next. The unknown is scary and change is inevitable. New Year’s resolutions are sometimes too much in themselves — who can imagine what creating expectations for the next decade is like?
Try to do a resolution back in January, because time is a construct and the beginning of the year does not define a start date for our self-improvements. Watercolor a picture, start going to the gym and put down that JUUL.
2019 is still at our fingertips, even if it is coming toward an end.
Emily Pearce can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @Emily_A_Pearce.