Often it is easy to get caught up in our day-to-day lives.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Caught up in how our day went, what we have to do tomorrow or what awaits the next week.
Yet when you have cause to sit back and reflect, it can be a really good perspective of what we've actually achieved in our lives.
There is a popular social media post doing the rounds at the moment which asks people to stop and reflect what they have achieved in the last decade. Pause for thought even.
With only a month remaining before one decade ends and a new one begins, it can be a bone-jarring reflection.
For those of us who have lived life on this wonderful planet for a few decades, 10 years ago can seem like a short moment in time.
If many of us were asked on the spot "what have you achieved in the last 10 years?" our instant reply would probably be "not much".
It's a human reaction to not want to dwell on the past or perhaps underestimate what we achieve on this earth individually.
Society, particularly Australian society, says we shouldn't be openly proud of such things. Yet the reality is we should all be our own best advocates. We need to be.
So, as an exercise this weekend, ask yourself the question: What have you achieved in the last decade?
Take yourself back 10 years in time, remember exactly where you were and what you were doing 10 years ago.
Chances are it is radically different to what you are doing now. Now think about all of the significant things which have happened in your life over that time.
Chances are the things that spring to mind cover a wide spectrum of emotions - happy, sad, love and loss.
Chances are the things you immediately identify will be the things that are most important in your life. Personally, there is a clear standout.
It has been raising two gorgeous girls with my wife that we love dearly and are incredibly proud of.
Two healthy girls who are kind and caring and light the world of those that they come in contact with. If that's all we've achieved in the last 10 years, that's pretty damn good. We'll take it.
Here's to the next decade. Bring it on.
Julian O'Brien is the editor of the Illawarra Mercury
