9 Years!

I can hardly believe it, but yesterday was the anniversary of the day I moved to this area.
How could it have been 9 yrs already?!
When I think of it that way...it seems impossible that it's been that long!

I thought maybe I'd write on here the top 9 changes that have happened since I moved here 9 yrs ago.

1.) I'm 9 yrs older obviously...was 20 when I moved away from my family to come here. WOW! Now looking back, I was so young then! I sure THOUGHT I was grown though! HA!

2.) I was single then....now...not so much! ;)

3.) My idea of kids at that time was babysitting/working for the preschool I worked for. Now I'm a full time Mom to the best three kids in the world!

4.) I had no idea what I wanted to be when I "grew up." I thought I wanted to teach and it's a good thing I didn't finish that degree because my passion is fitness! Now I KNOW that!

5.) I came from a place where I was somebody..everyone knows everyone in a small town. Now I live where I can fade into the background anytime I want!

6.) I had hardly traveled at all! Now I have been to NY, CT, FL, AZ, Alaska, AK and places in between! I can't wait to see more!

7.) I had no responsibilities before, and now I'm a partner in a TON of responsibilities. I've helped run a business, I run a household and I am taking on more personal goal responsibilities all of the time.

8.) I have a higher respect for family than I did when I moved here. Sure, I loved them before, but I value their love, support and help when I get it now! Thanks Mom and Dad!

9.) I have realized that no one is the same! I used to think everybody should be and was a certain way. I now respect the differences in people and have learned to accept myself and others as they are. I'm not saying that sometimes you have to change for the better, but life doesn't happen one particular way, and it's OK.

In the past 9 yrs, I have grown as a person so much. I had to! Moving to a new place and knowing 2 people was not easy, but I did it! Here's to the next 9 yrs! I don't even want to start to think about where I'll be then! HA!