2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved

Ok, we're a few days into 2020 and I keep finding it strange and surreal that we've just entered a new DECADE. It just seems a little hard to believe! At the start of this decade, I was in college, trying to keep up with assignment deadlines and my biggest life crisis being if I forgot to take my headphones with me anywhere.




Nowadays, a life crisis is not being able to add money to my Help To Buy ISA account or deciding whether to wear a coat or not when I go out. How times have changed. This is my point - we evolve over time, it doesn't take years or decades. It can take as little as weeks or even days for something to happen or you step out of your comfort zone. We grow and mature with age, we learn new things and we make mistakes, but we also learn from them too.




From my perspective, I know full well that I have grown into a completely different person to what I was when we entered 2010. I have gained so much confidence, I value myself more as a person and I still haven't let my illness define me as a person, a promise I made myself when I turned 18 in 2011. I have gained more knowledge, acquired new skills such as putting air in my car tyres, creating a website and how to make a banging ham and cheese toastie. See, you gain so many new skills in your life!




I know this post should may be have been written a little earlier than now, but you know, life, new decades and making ham and cheese toasties get in the way of getting things done sometimes.




I wanted to give a little, well, summary of the last decade, my main life events and how I've changed, starting with -


2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved


2010
The start of a new decade saw me settle into college, where I studied Health & Social Care for the first half of the way, before moving onto my Childcare course, which would continue for another two years. Things just seemed to tick by as usual.



2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved



2011
Ah, this is when some serious shit happened. Near the start of the year, my grandad sadly passed away from cancer, which, I won't lie, broke my heart. I was hoping he would make it to my 18th birthday. He always said that he wanted to make it to my 18th and watch the 2012 Olympics in London. Bless him, I still miss him. One thing I was determined to do after he died was to start driving lessons. I would have loved to have taken him to the betting shop so he could have a bet on the horses. Also in the Summer of this year, I transitioned to the adult CF centre from paediatrics. A quite monumental change for me, saying goodbye to the team who had looked after me from when I entered this world until the age of 18 was very emotional. At the end of the day, they were my second family.


2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved


2012
The start of 2012 saw me nervously step into the instructors car for my driving test and I passed first time! Six months of practicing parallel parking, three point turns and the pointless reverse around a junction manoeuvre and several impatient moments with my driving instructor paid off! Not long after this, my health took a huge nosedive. I found out from my doctor that I had a partially collapsed lung, something similar to a pneumothorax. Health-wise, this was a massive turning point in my life. It gave me the kick up the arse I needed to keep on top of everything eg meds, exercise etc. I then packed my folders away and wrote my last assignment as college life came to an end. For those wondering, I passed. Woop. I also got my first car, boy, driving on your own for the first time is bloody scary!


2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved


2013
After six months of looking for a job, I got offered one! A little morning job in a playgroup, nothing much, but it was a start! Then because my boss was such a bitch, I quit six months later. Hmm, time to start job searching again.


2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved

 
2014
At the start of this year, I started another job - in an after school club. I fell in love with this job as the hours were perfect for me and the girls I worked with were amazing. However, my mental health was at a real low, I had real dark thoughts and I didn't think I could go on. My physical and mental health was at an impasse. Thankfully, I did recover near the end of the year and entered 2015 feeling like the normal me again.


2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved


2015
Ok, there's only got to be one highlight from 2015 - my first game at Anfield. Well, I don't mean I donned the shirt to do my best Steven Gerrard impression, but I finally got to experience what I've been watching on my TV screen all those previous years. It was so surreal, I'll never forget the first time I saw the inside of Anfield, I actually teared up (happy tears of course). Ok, the ending result was 0-0, but the experience was something I won't forget in a hurry. This year was also the last time I had IV's, starting a new record which is still ongoing.


2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved


2016 
Without a doubt, this has to be the best year of the entire decade. It started with me sending off a Willow Foundation application to have a day at Melwood to meet the Liverpool players. A few weeks later, I'm standing in a room with Jurgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson having selfies with them. This is when my love affair with the city of Liverpool began. Three trips there in 2016, me adamant that I was going to make this my future home one day. Not long after that having chats with Liverpool players, I made the decision to quit the job I was in at the after school club (due to lack of working hours). I signed up to a supply teaching agency and carried on with my working life. A mini trip to London for the Willow Foundation took place in the month of September, Then this blog was born - Lucy Mary made it's first steps into the blogging world. This year saw my confidence soar to a whole new level. I took my first solo trip in this year, something I never thought was possible.


2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved



2017
I think after having such a mind blowing 2016, 2017 felt a bit meh. I hadn't really achieved anything new. One highlight being a birthday weekend in, you guessed it, Liverpool with my fabulous friends. My blog started gaining pace and health wise, I still felt incredible.
 
 

2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved

2018
Oh of course I head to Liverpool once again, well, twice again. One weekend I took my Mam on her first ever trip to Anfield, which was quite special for the both of us. Career wise, I was doing good, I was working in a school which I adored. I was keeping up with the blogging schedule I had set myself so I was feeling quite content and humble in 2018.



2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved


2019
Ah, the last of the decade - and guess what?! I changed jobs AGAIN. Before you sarky sods ask - yes I'm still there! Perfect hours for my health and I love it! Also, I took a huge step in terms of travel. I ventured to places beyond Liverpool. Trips to Brighton, Birmingham and Bath took place in the second half of the year. It does look like I chose a letter in the alphabet and chose to visit places beginning with 'B'. Honestly, I didn't! Although it does look that way!




I have enjoyed this little throwback and run down of the last decade. I don't know whether I'll make it to the end of this decade just yet, I've got to hope Trikafta (a new CF drug) comes along to help all us CFer's.




Now, let's see what 2020 brings...
43 comments
  1. You have changed so much in the last decade, hope 2020 brings you good luck :)

    Nic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes

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    1. Thank you Nic, I hope it does for you too!

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  2. What a lovely post to read and look at all those things that you have achieved. Here's to a good 2020 for you!
    Amber | www.amberatlanta.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Amber, I hope 2020 brings you lots of joy too!

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  3. I loved what you said in the beginning about how we can evolve in weeks and months as well as through the decade! This was such a nice summary of the decade. I appreciate that you did a true reflection of the highs and lows rather than just a highlight reel x

    Sophie
    www.glowsteady.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Sophie, I loved writing this as it gave me a chance to kind of reflect of how I've grown and how I have grown in confidence! You have to be real and talk about the lows of life - everybody has them! x

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  4. I actually read this post last night but I really love context behind it and it was nice reading something really authentic, and reading about your highs and lows. Thanks for sharing x

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    1. Ah Kayleigh I'm glad you enjoyed the post! x

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  5. This was great! You’ve inspired me. It’s always great to look back at our lives. My recent post is sort of similar too ✨✨

    www.insidethethoughtsoflia.wordpress.com

    Lia~

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    1. Aww that's so good to hear Lia! I'll have to have a read of your post too! x

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  6. Loved this, it's so cool to look back over the decade and think of all the things you've done and how much you've changed. It makes me so excited to see what the next decade has In store, it's like we have this big blank slate ahead of us now to fill with new memories and achievements. Wishing you a lovely year and decade.

    Sinead | sineadkathryn.com

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    1. I love the way you have looked at the prospect of a new clean slate for the start of the decade! I hope you have a great 2020 and beyond Sinead! x

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  7. I loved reading this post! It was so lovely to see how the past decade has been for you and how much you have grown as a person. You've done so well. I hope 2020 and the next decade is an amazing one for you xx

    Lauren | itslaurenvictoria.co.uk

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    1. Thank you Lauren! I'm really glad you enjoyed the post, I hope you have an amazing 2020 and decade too! xx

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  8. What a lovely post. It's always interesting to see how much we change and grow. I hope your 2020 becomes amazing.

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    1. Aww thank you Tea! I hope you have a great 2020!

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  9. This is such a lovely post- it's absolutely crazy to think that we've just entered a whole new decade! There's so much life that fills 10 years and I'm definitely a completely different person too! All the best for the next ten!
    Soph - https://sophhearts.com x

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    1. Thank you Soph! I still find it hard to believe that we've started a new decade! I hope you have an amazing 2020 and decade! x

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  10. This is such a lovely idea for a post - I love it!

    Lucy | www.lucy-cole.co.uk

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  11. What a fun way to welcome in the new year! It's amazing how much can change year to year and it's great there have been so many highlights over the past 10 years for you! :)

    Hope that you had a great weekend :)

    Away From Blue

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  12. What a great post! It must be incredible to be able to look back over your decade and really see how much you've changed. My memory is too poor to do something like this haha! I hope the next decade is kind to you too xx

    Hannah | luxuryblush

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    1. It was a little bit surreal looking back over the last decade, especially to see how far I've grown in the last 10 years! I hope you have an incredible decade too Hannah! xx

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  13. I love this kind of content! It’s fantastic to see how much you’ve grown.

    Kate | thelittlecrunch.co.uk

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    1. Ah thank you Kate, I'm glad you enjoyed the post!

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  14. Loads of fun! I love all the pictures <3 Sounds like a ton of growth and experience these last 10 years. Hopefully 2020 will be amazing :)

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  15. Wow what a great post - you've changed so much and achieved so much. Here's to the next decade!xx

    Han // www.behindthefalselashes.com

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  16. You have achieved so much! I'm so proud of you. Lovely post, keep up the good work. I'll bet you'll rock this decade as well ♡

    —Athena Christy
    https://athenachristy.wordpress.com/

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    1. Ah thank you so much! I hope you have an amazing 2020!

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  17. What a lovely post! And such a great way to look back on the decade and how much you've grown through it - I hope 2020 and this decade are good ones for you! x

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    1. Ah thank you Hannah! I hope you have a great 2020 and decade ahead! x

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  18. I loved reading this post, I wish I had more photos of my life in the last 10 years! I think 2020 and moving forward I want to take more photos :)

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    1. I was lucky to find all of these Sophie! It took me forever to find 2013's photo! x

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  19. May 2020 be a better year for all of us.

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  20. I loved reading this, you've achieved so much in the last 10 years! I'm planning on a similar post looking at how I've changed over the years in the next couple of weeks and I'm actually quite looking forward to reflecting that far back! Xx

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    1. Thank you Amy! I'll have to give it a read when you post it lovely! xx

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  21. Awesome expected post you shared here, I will require it many times, and here the outstanding selection of topic also makes me more jolly, please hope more blog post we get from you. Thanks advances!!!

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  22. This is such a lovely post. You've been able to achieve so many things. Its been great to read about your journey throughout the decade.

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