A decade in review: Things I have learned each New Year since 1999. Instead of covering each year in detail, I broke it down by big parts of the decade that had a significant impact. Overall lessons learned: It’s all about trial and error and more error and then convincing yourself to try again.
1999-2003
Place in life: College
Lesson learned:
College, while intimidating was a pretty great place to watch 4-6 hours of television completely uninterrupted by parents telling you what you should be doing. Declaring a major will help curb that, “I think I should probably quit school,” feeling. Vodka can be your best friend and your worst enemy. I manage to always find an extracurricular activity that makes me get up before 7 a.m. on the weekends. Being a horseback riding instructor over the summer was my favorite job. Living on your own means cooking for yourself. I got really good at making meatloaf and pork chops. Do not use brown sugar in a curry dish. The idea of moving back home post-graduation makes your college career’s end very bittersweet.
2003-2006
Place in life: Living at home with parents, looking for a good career, my dog dies, braces, jaw surgery, improv life.
Lessons Learned: 
-My parents are good people. My parents are very generous people. I love my parents. My parents while living under the same roof with them, made me consider taking large doses of Valium.
-Working for your family is a bad idea. Working for someone else’s family is a better idea. Working for someone who’s family you know not at all is the best idea.
-I still miss my little Prancer pup. Dogs make my life better. I smile a lot more when I’m around dogs.
-Braces = Not My Favorite. Orthodontist appointments can dehumanize most people as you’re shoved through the assembly line of bracketed mouths and cheek spreaders.
-Improv life was my post-college, college experience. I made good friends there. I realized my potential there. I realized the potential of me being a paid performer there; none. Career search continues.
-I met my future husband. He kept me sane. He still does.
2006-2009
Place in Life: Moved to the city, Found a well-fitting career choice, got engaged, got married, dance lessons.
Lessons Learned:
- Chicago is an amazing city that can also be downright difficult.
- Drinking bourbon can be good to you. Unless you push its limits.
- It’s comforting to know that there are jobs out there that match well with your talents.
- Getting engaged and getting married was a phenomenal experience that took me down several emotional avenues.
- If you would have told me all four of these things listed under “place in life” would happen in relatively quick succession, I would have taken a drink, thrown it in your lap, called you a liar and stormed off to the powder room. Actually I probably would have given a hopeful smile and said, “really?!” LL: Life has a way of delivering you to where you want to be. And here’s the thing: it’s usually never the way you planned it. Be honest what you want out of your life and make sure to tell people about it. Your advocates show up in the most interesting of places.
- I love going dancing. I love going dancing with my partner in crime. I think that when we’re 80 and we’re dancing, we’ll still feel like we did when we first got married. And after a decade of life lessons, this might be one of my favorites.
