There’s a new challenge you’ve probably spotted on your Facebook, Twitter or Instagram feed – the #10Year Challenge. Where users post a throw back photo of themselves from 10 years ago and another from 2019.
At first I thought, yes I’m going to get involved. I scrolled through my Facebook photo albums and found a few from 2009. Had a little chuckle with George as to how different we looked (mainly my hair colour) and enjoyed chatting about what Daddy and Mummy were doing in 2009. I definitely looked younger, a little more carefree but ultimately just as happy as I am today.
And then I saw a hashtag associated with the challenge and instantly my feelings changed. #HowHardDidAgeingHitYou. I started to look at it from a different angle. From how others might see it. In a world of comparison where so many individuals struggle with who they are vs who they want to be. What they have and where they are going. What we look like. So much comparison. Surely this won’t end well.
Is this the dark side of the challenge?
I generally look for the positive in every day and only ever saw this #10YearChallenge as an opportunity to look back at the memory book. To smile at yesteryear. To show George photos of a younger Mummy and Daddy. Nothing more, nothing less. How do you see the challenge?
I am certain that whoever and wherever this project started it was meant to be something of joy and not comparison or disappointment. Our battle scars are what make us. They show that we were wounded but not defeated. Whether it’s wrinkles from becoming ten years older, sixteen stitches from a difficult childbirth, a few extra pounds because your love for cake is ten times stronger. Aren’t we all just doing our best? We can always strive to be better but only if we choose to.
Shouldn’t we celebrate life?
And so, I thought I would approach the challenge in a different way and look at everything I have achieved in 10 years. I posted a few over on my Instagram Stories on Saturday evening and received an overwhelming response in agreeance. Here goes, my own #10YearChallenge…
- Braver – over the last ten years I have gained the strength to close the door on toxic relationships
- I married Mr H and have held together a very strong and healthy relationship. 8 years married. 14 years together.
- Became pregnant, gave birth, and to this day together we are raising a boy who makes us so proud
- I have built a career to be proud of and show my boy everyday that you can work full-time, raise a family, exercise and whilst some days it might be tough together we are stronger
- Have such great friends
- I have finally realised that ‘dieting’ is not the answer. I have found a lifestyle that allows me to eat healthily, exercise and eat cake all whilst being the best version of myself
- Renovated a house (still going)
- Have learnt that a little spontaneity can only ever be good for the soul
- Started a blog, found my voice in the form of an online journal and a passion for photography
- And lastly took a leap of faith which I hope one day proves me right for believing in myself and those who doubted me wrong
Can we go back to having fun? Seeing the good in all that we and others do. Lifting each other up. Staying quiet if we have nothing good to say. Looking for the good. See no evil, hear no evil. And whilst that’s quite a simplistic way of looking at life and the world around us, let it be said that I am happy just the way I am.
And if you’re looking to read a little more around how others are feeling about this challenge, I really enjoyed Katie Piper’s take on the challenge and Jameela Jamil’s who has a really interesting project around life positivity. I love that, life positivity.
I never even thought about the negativity! I did a couples one and laughed about how me and the hubby had changed. Had a think about everything that happened in the last 10years and moved on. It shocked me to seee how others had seen it as a detrimental thing but fully understood it once I thought about it-my Brain was just not wired that way! Lovely post and so glad you feel stronger in many ways now than 10 years ago x
Author
You’re like me – just look for the good. I think sadly there are just so many people out there who see the bad first. They are the people that need protecting in this x
As you know, I started innocently looking through photographs, the same way that you did. Quite quickly I found it very thought provoking – so much has happened in 10 years and not all of it good. But I was able to look at that year, 2009, and remember some really happy times that did so much for my soul. You’ve definitely achieved a LOT in 10 years, KA! I actually prefer the way I look now to back then to be honest lol! xx
Author
I think we’re all be foolish to think we could get through a decade without anything sad or disappointing happening but it’s how we channel that or move on from. I think you look fabulous x
I tend to ignore the negatives associated with just about every single little thing these days so I missed the negativity around it all. I hadn’t intended to take part in the 10 year challenge myself, I did pop 2 photos of me then and now on stories in the end though. And while I guess it’s only natural to compare what you looked and felt like back then to now, I can truly say I was happy then and I am happy now. Yes there are difficulties in my life now, but there were then too. But ultimately I was and am happy regardless of what I looked like in the 10 year old photo I posted. And I’m actually quite chuffed because I much prefer the latest photo, I’m slimmer, fitter and healthier than I was back then and despite the bags under my eyes I think I look better now too. Here’s to another 10 years of health, happiness and achievements we can be proud of x
Author
I love your attitude towards this my love. One I hope others take some inspiration from x
Urgh why does there have to be such negativity around something that was no doubt started as a little bit of fun. Thankfully I haven’t seen anything negative, and I shared a few pictures on my instagram stories from 10 years ago. My comparison was that I don’t know which was harder… parenting a 3 and 6 year old, or a 13 and 16 year old. Actually I know the answer only too well, give me a 3 and 6 year old anyday lol x
Author
I completely agree, I think sadly its just the way people approach things or feelings towards themselves. Have a good week x