When I Was 25....
Aimee recently described five things her 25 year old self would not have predicted for her now 38 year old self and asked her readers to describe the same. When I was 25, nearly 14 years ago, I was living in Durango, Colorado, working as an engineer in the oil and gas industry. I had just bought my first home, a townhouse. I was on call every 3rd weekend, but the other two weekends, I could be found in the mountains - hiking, biking, backpacking, skiing. I was still seeing the guy I dated in college, only because neither one of us had any other options. We professed to love each other, but when push came to shove, it did not happen. Looking back 14 years, I think my 25 year old self would be surprised about the following things, most.
1. I live in Tulsa, OK. I used to swear that I would never live anywhere that did not have mountains. I am still a wee bit shocked that I have been here about 10 years or so. I still view myself as being a temporary resident here.
2. I am married with two children, contemplating a third. For as long as I can remember, I never wanted children. Never. I thought I was too selfish for children and liked my life just fine without them. I thought they were cute and that, but not for me. I suspect there are many of us out there.
3. I am part owner of a successful construction company. Back then, I wanted to climb the corporate ladder, but I thought it would be in Salt Lake City or Denver, as part of an energy company, not as head of finance in a general contracting company with seven direct reports.
4. I have completed four (or is it five?) marathons and am planning my next one. My view of running was the 3 miles/day that I logged in the mornings as a wake-me-up. I hiked nearly every evening, even during the winter. I needed no other exercise to stay in shape. It was part of my lifestyle to be in shape, I did not need anything else. But, living in hilly northeastern OK with a job and kids and no free time, I need to run every day and more than three miles.
5. Most surprisingly of all, I think it is that I now believe that global warming is real. As an employee for an energy company, I felt like it was my duty to poo-poo all talk of global warming and disregard thoughts of conservation. Ha. Today, I am planning on my next vehicle being a Toyota Prius, I have started recycling, we have switched all our lightbulbs, and I routinely go through the house and turn off the excess lights, unplug things that should not be drawing electricity, etc.
If you have not already, tell me some things that your 25 year old self would not have predicted about your life today.
1. I live in Tulsa, OK. I used to swear that I would never live anywhere that did not have mountains. I am still a wee bit shocked that I have been here about 10 years or so. I still view myself as being a temporary resident here.
2. I am married with two children, contemplating a third. For as long as I can remember, I never wanted children. Never. I thought I was too selfish for children and liked my life just fine without them. I thought they were cute and that, but not for me. I suspect there are many of us out there.
3. I am part owner of a successful construction company. Back then, I wanted to climb the corporate ladder, but I thought it would be in Salt Lake City or Denver, as part of an energy company, not as head of finance in a general contracting company with seven direct reports.
4. I have completed four (or is it five?) marathons and am planning my next one. My view of running was the 3 miles/day that I logged in the mornings as a wake-me-up. I hiked nearly every evening, even during the winter. I needed no other exercise to stay in shape. It was part of my lifestyle to be in shape, I did not need anything else. But, living in hilly northeastern OK with a job and kids and no free time, I need to run every day and more than three miles.
5. Most surprisingly of all, I think it is that I now believe that global warming is real. As an employee for an energy company, I felt like it was my duty to poo-poo all talk of global warming and disregard thoughts of conservation. Ha. Today, I am planning on my next vehicle being a Toyota Prius, I have started recycling, we have switched all our lightbulbs, and I routinely go through the house and turn off the excess lights, unplug things that should not be drawing electricity, etc.
If you have not already, tell me some things that your 25 year old self would not have predicted about your life today.
1 Comments:
Great post!
My 25 y.o. self wouldn't have imagined leaving Ohio for Maryland, leaving higher education for the corporate world or the fact I'm training for a triathlon!
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