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Politics and Activism

10 Years At A Glance

Don't blink.

Amy McCarroll

Jan 30, 2017

Knoxville, Tennessee

Bullet Indigest

It’s been 10 years...

It’s been 10 years since I lived at home with my mom.

It’s been 10 years since she made me get in bed by a certain time each night.

It’s been 10 years since my mom woke me up for school each morning.

It’s been 10 years since she got mad at me for running late.

It’s been 10 years since I rode a school bus.

It’s been 10 years since I had to go to school 5 days a week.

It’s been 10 years since my mom made me do homework every night.

It’s been 10 years since I had to take my lunch at a certain time every day.

It’s been 10 years since I had to eat dinner at the dinner table.

It's been 10 years since I had chores.

It’s been 10 years since I had to follow class rules.

It’s been 10 years since I could have detention.

It’s been 10 years since I had a curfew to be home at a certain time.

It’s been 10 years since I was told what to do.

It’s been 10 years since I could get grounded.

It’s been 10 years since I had to follow my mom’s household rules.

It’s been 10 years since I have seen my high school classmates.

Today...

Today I live alone.

Today I go to bed when I want.

Today I get myself up for school and for work.

Today I get mad at myself if I am running late.

Today I drive myself to work.

Today I go to school when I want

Today I do my homework when I want to.

Today I eat lunch when I want.

Today I eat dinner where I want.

Today I clean when I want.

Today I don’t have to follow school rules or my parents’ rules.

Today I can’t get detention.

Today I come and go as I please.

Today I do what I want when I want.

Today I can’t get grounded.

Today I follow my own rules.

Today I see people when I want to see them.

This morning I woke up to a group message from about 50 of my high school classmates. The time has come to plan our 10-year high school class reunion. This really puts things into perspective.

10 years ago, I remember being 17 and trying to plan my life. I was trying to figure out what path I wanted to take in life. It seemed as if I had so much time ahead of me. I felt invincible.

Now here I am 10 years later, still trying to plan my life and decide which path I want to take.

And boy, does time fly? It doesn’t seem like it has been 10 years. Where does all the time go?

It really puts things into perspective about how short life really is. Time is ticking every single day. Time is running out. This isn’t a practice life. Life is happening right now. Imagine how quickly the last 10 years of your life has gone by. Then imagine adding another 10 and another 10. Soon, your life has flashed by before you know it.

So, what are you waiting for? Do the things you want to do. Don’t wait. Life doesn’t wait and time doesn’t wait.

Live your life so that you aren’t saying...

I wish I had started that 10 years ago.

I wish I had went there 10 years ago.

I wish I had done that 10 years ago.

I regret not doing that 10 years ago.

What if that happened 10 years?

Instead, plan your life so that you are saying...

I am so glad I started that 10 years ago.

I am so glad I went there 10 years ago.

I am so glad I did that 10 years ago.

I am so glad that happened 10 years ago.

Remember, life is short. You are the author of your story and nobody holds the pen except for you. Make it happen.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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10 Years At A Glance

Don't blink.

It’s been 10 years...

Today...

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#Adulting is hard.

1. Taking care of yourself when you're sick

2. Making a to-do list

3. Planning your activities around the weather

4. Scheduling your own doctor’s appointments

5. Getting your own toilet paper

6. Making food without needing to ask your mom questions

7. Holding your tongue

8. Saving your paycheck (or your tax refund) to pay your bills

9. Balancing your checkbook

10. Going places alone

11. Packing your own lunches

12. Actually eating your vegetables...on purpose

13. Taking a multivitamin

14. Planning a life after graduation

Sometimes bigger isn't always better.

1. If something happens, everyone knows about it

2. Never getting to be invisible

3. Knowing every single thing about every single person in the town

4. New kids are a big deal

5. It’s hard to make new friends

6. On that note ... the dating pool is even smaller!

7. Teachers are weirdly close to their students

8. It forced you to make friends out of school

"I'm hopeless and awkward and desperate for love"

1. That Time He Tested Out His Flirting Skills and This Happened

2. When He Was Willing to Do Anything to Avoid Confrontation

3. When He Couldn't Handle Awkward, Emotional Situations

4. How He Reacted Whenever His Friends Ignored Him

5. All of the Times He Worried About His Failing Love Life

6. Whenever He Tried to Whip Himself Into Shape

7. How He Handled New People and New Experiences

8. Whenever His Friends Got Annoying, He Was Always the Voice of Reason

9. He Always Knew How to Jam

10. He Finds a Way to Make Any Situation More Fun

No, I can't help you.

1. When a customer wants to return a product, hands you the receipt, where is printed "ALL SALES ARE FINAL" in all caps.

2. Just because you might be having a bad day, and you're in a crappy mood, doesn't make it okay for you to yell at me or be rude to me. I'm a person with feelings, just like you.

3. People refusing to be put on hold when a customer is standing right in front of you. Oh, how I wish I could just hang up on you!

4. Having the same conversations over and over again! To be honest I really don't even want to talk to you right now, or have this fake ass smile on my face!

5. Always having to have a smile on your face. I promise I'm not as happy as I may look!

6. Customers not understanding that sometimes, mistakes happen. I am a human being, we all mess up sometimes!

7. Having the boss from hell, it's their way or the highway! Even though I did my job correctly and efficiently, if I don't do it the exact way you do, I'm a piece of shit.

8. Having coworker who don't help out, who bend the rules just enough to screw you over.

9. Having to be at work after closing because a customer is taking forever and half! Not like I'd like to go home or anything!

10. Having shitty hours and more shifts than you asked for. Just because we don't have enough workers, doesn't mean I want to pick up every shift that you cant cover, oh great boss of mine!

11. Not having time for a social life. It gets old saying, "I can't I have work..." Every day of the week!

12. Having that lazy costumer who can't do anything for themselves... no please I'll get that, it's no problem at all!

It's just my face, I swear.

1. When you meet new people, they automatically assume you hate them or are rude.

2. People are constantly asking you if you're OK.

3. After being friends with someone for a while, they confess to you, "I thought you were so mean when I first met you," or, "I thought you hated me."

4. You get told to smile more, but they don't understand how scary that would be.

5. You're always labeled as seeming "judgy."

6. Passing a friend with your RBF in full force and not realizing you just shot them a death glare.

7. Being sarcastic, but everyone thinks you're outright rude.

8. Not knowing how mean you really look until you see a picture of yourself in resting face.

9. Your apologies never sound sincere because of your emotionless face.

10. Your "mad face" scares you.

11. And, lastly, people are constantly asking you if you are happy or having a good time because you look bored to death.

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