With a brand new year just around the corner, it seems like the right time to make a post looking back at the last 12 months. Whilst I love reading posts like this, reflection posts are just not usually my thing. This being said, as we crawl, or rather sprint, depending on how your year has been going, towards the end of 2019, we not only reach the last few days of the year, but we also conclude a complete decade.
As of a few days time, we will be entering into a whole new era and I wanted to take a quick look back at the last ten years. I wanted to do this, only on a personal level though, so no Brexit or politics is involved (yay).
Finishing School
Taking it right the way back to the start of the decade, I finished school in June 2010. Back then you could leave school at the ripe old age of 16, and this I did, with all seventeen GCSE’s in tow. It was quite a proud moment to say the very least, especially since I had been sitting the exams since I was 14.
Going To College
Although I did not have much of an idea what I wanted to ‘do’ when I left school, I knew I wanted to go to college and work on something creative. I got in to my first choice of college and completed my A levels in 2012. I studied graphic design and communication, English language, English literature, drama and media.
To Uni or Not To Uni
Still not done with putting myself through exams, I signed up for more education and a whole load of debt in 2013. I took a year between finishing college and going to university to make sure I picked the right course and took some time to think about where I wanted to study. My course brought me to London and I restarted my studies in 2013.
Graduation
So the first 6 years of the 2010’s were very education focused for me as you can tell. I graduated from university in 2016 with a degree in journalism. Getting through my time at university was incredibly difficult in places, mainly because I had absolutely no friends on my course and a distinct lack of interest in some of the course content. One of the things I am most proud of this decade is finishing my degree despite all of that. You can read more on my university story here.
Moving to London
In between my first and second years at university I was not able to stay in London as I had nowhere to live. When I moved to back to the city for my second year, I made sure I picked out a house I could make a home. Luckily for me, things started to look up, as I had the best housemates and could finally get myself in a better place both physically and mentally and this really gave me the strength to finish my degree. I also had a better social life from this point because I stopped trying to be friends with other students and focused on the great people that were now surrounding me. I even managed to stay in London between years two and three, getting my first dip into the freelance pond, working from home over the summer for a national newspaper, to pay my bills.
Built a Life For Myself
Getting a summer job when I was in university was a real turning point for me in this decade. It helped make 2015 one of the best years of my life. It also gave me a confidence boost which I needed to remind myself that ‘I can do this’. Whilst I haven’t always loved the jobs I have had since university, I remain proud of the fact that I have been able to stay in London and travel a little bit too. It’s a difficult city to survive in and I have delight in the fact that it hasn’t eaten me, yet.
Freelancing
Towards the very end of the 2010’s, and by that I mean the latter part of this year, I have launched myself into freelancing on a full time basis. I am so much happier in doing this, despite the struggles, than I ever have been in an office based 9-5 and I have no regrets. I really want to work hard on this throughout the 20’s, especially 2020.
Found My Mr
One of the best things about moving to London for me was the diverse range of people it introduced me to, which had previously been somewhat limited in my hometown. As cheesy as it is to say, moving to London let me meet my Mr. After countless hilariously bad dates, I met my partner in 2017, four years after moving to London.
Great Places to Live
Anyone that knows anything about property, especially in London, will tell you how difficult it can be to find the right place. Of course I have not lived in my perfect paradise when it comes to houses and flats, but I have always managed to find somewhere I was able to make a home. Clean, safe and warm places in decent locations are a lot harder to find than it sounds, especially in London.
Whilst a lot of my friends have been busy getting married, buying cars, having babies, buying houses and oh so much more, it is important not to compare your life path to that of others. As you can see, I did a lot of growing up in the last decade and made some big choices that have put me on the path I am on today.
These are some of the things I am most proud of from the 2010’s. What are you most proud of from the last ten years? Let me know in the comments below.
Ellies London 
I love this. Great reflection and great to hear how you chose your own path. For me it was giving up my main career to do something different and achieve in that different job. It’s been a great decade. Cheers to the new one 😊
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Thank you so much – I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It is such a huge thing – changing career and it can be so difficult. It’s great that you had a good decade – I wish you all the positive vibes for the next one! x
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To you too Ellie 😊
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I am proud every day. Of my daughter and her fella, ‘our lass’, and all my family. We work hard to earn the right to be happy. May it continue.🙂
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🤣 Our Lass 🤣 Indeed we do work hard – happiness is something that needs work and is the responsibility of nobody but ourselves. I am excited to see what the 20’s hold and if they’ll be as roaring as the last ones! x
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Last decade has been great and looking forward for the next one with you ❤️
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Thank you ♥ It has been such a bust decade and I am so excited to start the new one with you and truly make it ‘ours’ ♥ x
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I loved reading this post. You have achieved so much and I can tell you have grown so much as a person too.
Wishing you a wonderful 2020 full of even more achievements and happiness.
Alyssa
The Sacred Space AP
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Thank you so much for your comment and your kind words – I’m glad you enjoyed this post. I have definitely grown up a lot – I keep thinking about the end of like 2009 and wondering if I am where I thought I would be, ten years ago! I wish you all the best, positive vibes for 2020 and beyond ♥.
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The first part of the decade started so badly…a disaster of a relationship….homeless penniless and no job…..Then a health scare due to all of the above…..
However what a difference a few years makes…. I watched my daughter mature into a wonderful person I am truly proud of. I watched her fall in love with am amazing man. I ditched the worst job I’d had in years with bullying manipulating people and I drove round the Abu Dhabi formula one track in a Mercedes sports car to celebrate a milestone birthday.
I’m happier and more content than I’ve ever been thanks to my wonderful new husband and our fabulous wedding in June this year…..you all know who you are love you all…..here’s to am amazing next 10 years 🦌🦌🦌🦌🎅🎅🎅🎅🎅
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🎉 This! 💝 You were (and are always) so strong and getting through the struggles at the start of the decade helped you become who you are today. The turning point in the decade was honestly 2015 which is still one of the best years of my life in so many wonderful ways. 🎊 I’m excited to get into the new decade with my own Mr, you referred to and I’m looking forward to the next ten years! 🎈
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I think my biggest achievement is my son! Have a great 2020 xx
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Wow, indeed that is quite an achievement! Congrats on that one – wishing you (and your boy) the best for 2020 ♥ x
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Lovely post sweetie! You have achieved a lot, simmilar as us! Finished university, met my Mr right, move to England, got married and less than a year ago started blogging!
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Thank you so much – it’s quite a list when you see it written down isn’t it? Thank you for your comment and I wish all the positive vibes and wonderful things for you in 2020! x
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I love the idea of a decade review! You’ve come so far, it’s 100% worth celebrating! For me, New Years is about celebrating and marking successes and achievements!
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Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. There is so much pressure on New Year’s so often and it’s so unnecessary. Instead of setting resolutions for ourselves which we will fail at and will make us feel bad, let us all look back at the last year (or ten) and focus on what we have achieved because we are all special and we all need to be proud that we are here! ♥ x
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You got a lot accomplished this past decade! It was a huge time of transition and growth for me. Finally grew up and decided what I wanted to do with my life by leaving a dead-end job, dead-end relationships, moving out of the country and back, and starting a business. Who I was 10 years ago my situation, totally different now. All the best of luck to you in 2020 in the coming decade.
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That’s absolutely amazing to hear ♥️ Well done with all of that! It sounds like you’re ready to nail 2020 as well so best of luck and all the positive vibes for everything you want to achieve! X
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A lovely reflection and it sounds like you’ve done some amazing things. Wishing you all the best for 2020! Xx
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Thank you so much 💕 Same to you – all the positive vibes for 2020! X
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It sounds like it was an eventful decade — congrats! It’s always so lovely reflecting back on good memories ❤️
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It sure was – and it can be so good looking back! I am trying more now to focus on looking forward more and living in the present! ♥ x
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