Decade In Review: 2010s

Dec 28

At the start of the 2010s I was 14 years old. I had just moved from southern New Hampshire to Sugar Hill and started high school. At the end of the 2010s I am 24 years old and have been settling into married life, homeownership, and self-employment.

This decade has been a whirlwind of goals and achievements, all of which have contributed to the strong foundation I am entering the 2020s with.

I’m all about goal setting and continuous improvement, but it’s important to look at how far you’ve come and to celebrate. In that spirit, I am following Marie Forleo’s Decade In Review outline to gather an in-depth look at my past 10 years.

What I’m proud of:
• I started this blog as a high school assignment on March 8, 2010 under the name Traveling Sunshine. It has served as a journal of life events, a place to share photos from shoots, and most recently, a resource for other small business owners. Its purpose has shifted as my life has evolved and I vow to never delete a post- no matter how embarrassing or grammatically incorrect.
• After saving for two years I purchased the MegaBug in 2011! She has a manual transmission so I had to learn standard shift, which I’m also quite proud of.
• I graduated from high school a year early in 2012, and graduated with 18 college credits.
• I graduated with my A.A. in Liberal Arts from White Mountains Community College in May 2013.
• In October 2013 I opened MegaBug Photography, LLC.
• I began dating Shelby in the summer of 2014.
• In July 2014 I became the Executive Director of the Franconia Notch Chamber of Commerce - at 19 years old!
• A few months later, I graduated with a B.A. in English, A.S. in Business Administration, and a minor in Marketing from Lyndon State College. DEBT FREE! All from working 25 hours a week at a local bank, choosing state schools, commuting, and scholarships.
• Soon after, I moved out on my 20th birthday. I wanted to move out way sooner, but I lived at home so I wouldn’t have to pay rent while going to college. Later that year, Shelby and I moved into an apartment together.
• Shelby and I rescued two cats , Guinevere and Lancelot.
• At 21 I became self-employed, moved into The Tannery Marketplace, and opened Nutmeg Media, LLC.
• Shelby and I bought a house!
• And less than a month later, on October 8, 2016, we got married in our backyard.
• I purchased my ultimate dream bug, Aquarius, a 2005 Aquarius Blue convertible in August 2017.
• I consolidated both businesses and rebranded to Miss MegaBug, LLC in spring 2019.

What I learned:
• Life is not guaranteed and to appreciate time spent with the ones you love, especially older relatives. Grandpa’s sudden passing taught me that.
• People will doubt you and you have to pick up the damn pom poms and be your own cheerleader. Proving them wrong is so satisfying. As is accomplishing what you set out to do, of course.
• People come and go in your life and some passings are harder than others.
• That while ambitions give you passion, they are not your sole purpose in life; life is meant to be relished and enjoyed. It’s a lesson I’m still learning, but admission is the first step.
• Marriage is haaaaard. I’d love to see Disney make a movie about a princess 5-10 years after “the happily ever after.” I hate compromise and am still learning what to let go of, what to fight for, and what my boundaries are.
• You can do it all but not at once. I’m trying to keep this in mind when setting me 2020 goals.
• Delegating is magical when you delegate to the right people and set clear expectations.
• That it’s okay to pivot and you’re not a failure if you get what you thought you wanted and realize you hate it (ahem, being a wedding/portrait photographer).
• It’s okay to disappoint your family and even to take some space away. At the end of the day (it may be a few years) they’ll either let it go, realize they shouldn’t have underestimated you, or forgotten about it.
• That fun should be scheduled into your calendar just like work and appointments.

What I’m willing to let go of:
• Comparing myself to others in a business/professional sense. We’re all on our own journey and you never know where you’re supposed to end up.
• Not getting the closure I want in a few situations/relationships. I am accepting that I need to find closure in a different way.
• Glorifying my to-do list and working all the damn time.
• The belief that you have to work hard to make money.
• Stressing that the house is a mess while building my business(es) and dealing with every other thing that’s on my plate.
• That I can’t change people. I have to either accept them as they are or revaluate the relationship.
• Being hard on myself. I wouldn’t consider myself a perfectionist, but I’m still very hard on myself.

What I want to achieve in the 2020s:
• A schedule that allows me three day weekends and five hour work days.
• Generate a good chunk of my income from online courses.
• A shift from being behind the computer to making things happen in the tangible world.
• A greater integration of spirituality into my daily life.
• An organized house that makes me relaxed instead of stressed.
• Maintaining a healthy weight that feels good.
• Financial freedom. I want to be completely debt-free by 30, which is coming up in 2025.
• The ability to travel two to three times a year. To Europe, Bermuda, and other plane trip-required locales.
• Purchasing The Tannery Marketplace.
• Creating a green space and river walk on the Tannery property.
• Opening The Glovebox Cafe on the Tannery property.
• Giving back to the community through events, sponsorships, and donations.
• Opening MacEddie’s Diner in Bethlehem. This has been mine and Shelby’s dream since we started dating.
• Receiving numerous business awards and recognitions.
• Purchasing my family’s camp and renovating it.

What 2030 Meg wants me to know:
Dearest Meg,

I would love you to know that all of your dreams come true and then some. You have always been a go getter and in this decade you learn how to balance ambition with living life to its fullest.

The Tannery is thriving and has become a wonderful asset to the community. Your days are spent overseeing its operation along with that of The Glovebox, MacEddie’s Diner, and helping entrepreneurs build their dream businesses through your original business, Miss MegaBug.

Money and clutter are no longer stressors for you. Each morning brings a new possibility that you are excited to greet. Shelby is helping you oversee the businesses and is thriving in his own business as well.

Your work is spent on tasks you enjoy and that you excel in. Anything outside of your zone of genius is delegated. Significantly less of your time is spent in front of a screen and more of it is spent working with your hands or with people.

You take numerous vacations a year and spend summer weekends at Camp, which you and Shelby renovated to be more beautiful than you envisioned.

Your house is paid off and your only debts are business related. As a result of saving, you and Shelby put the modest addition on your home that you’ve been dreaming of.

Guinevere and Lancelot are still kicking, though they are nearing the end of their lives. You cherish every moment with them, along with your two other cats, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, goats, chickens, bees, and sheep.

In order to get to this point, I’d like you to remember to appreciate everyday even if you’re not yet where you want to be. You have a tendency to arrive and instantly want the next thing. Enjoy where you’re at now and find the delight in your current situation.

Schedule in more time with friends, massages, and vacations and stick to them. Work less and do more of your hobbies.

We accomplished a lot this decade and we still have so much life to live. While our days are consistent, each one is a new adventure. I’m not anticipating new pursuits in the next decade, just continued growth in what we already have.

Take a deep breath and relax. Everything you desire will come in time.

Love,
2030 Meg

What an illuminating process! Thank you, Marie Forleo for putting this together and inspiring me to go after my craziest dreams.

I highly recommend everyone complete a decade in review. It provides perspective and excitement. Let’s make the 2020s roar louder than the 1920s!