8 Years…

I can’t believe I started this diary 8 years ago and have been regularly updating ever since. It’s amazing to have my life chronicled in such details over nearly a decade. What an amazing age we live in! So I guess I should do an update:

I am happy to say that I am dating the same person I was for my 7 year update and our relationship is amazing! Bobby makes me so happy and we are planning our lives together. I thank God every night for bringing him into my life. It really strengthens my faith in God that He helped me stay on course to find Bobby. There were so many times where I wanted to derail myself, either settling for less than perfect boyfriends simply because they were available at the time, or times when my outlook was so dreary that I felt I’d never find happiness. I like to think of God giving me a piggyback ride through those rough times and depositing me safely in Bobby’s arms. I’m hoping that by the time my 9 year update comes around I’ll be discussing our wedding plans.

For the first time in 9 years of working I actually enjoy my job. I have some really fun co-workers, my job is not nearly as stressful as my previous jobs, and the work is actually interesting. It’s so much easier to get up in the mornings when I know the day will more than likely go well. At my previous job I dreaded even going to bed at night just because it would "fast foward" the hours until I had to be at work the next morning and would feel a sense of impending doom when the clock hit 10:30am and I had to log in for my first call. I’m very grateful to be out of that job and into one so completely different.

In March I finished my undergraduate education and in June I walked at graduation with my Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership. In the spring I will be applying for the Master of Leadership Development program at Wright State. Since I am a full-time employee of WSU the tuition is free, but I can only take 2 courses at a time. I’m definitely okay with that since it will save me tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and I don’t want to overwhelm myself with full-time graduate level classes.

I’ve inadvertantly become sort of the "golden child" of my family. My brothers have each divorced and their choices of partners over the past few years haven’t exactly been pleasing to my parents, whereas my parents adore Bobby. They think he’s so good for me and they treat him like a son when we visit them. My stepsister is being a rebellious teenager and choosing exaclty the opposite of what her father would have chosen for her. Whereas my siblings have been loudly living their lives and therefore loudly making their mistakes, I have flown under the radar. Now it’s evident that I’ve quietly been building a happy and healthy life; a life which stands in stark contrast to those of my siblings. It’s nice to have gone from never being able to make the right choice to being the positive example in the family.

I’ve kind of drifted from Carly a bit, but I’m okay with that. We keep in touch during the day with emails and text messages, but we only see each other about once every month or so. I know we both wish we could see each other more often, but we’re both very busy and it’s difficult to find time when we’re both available. Looking back a few years ago I would have thought our drifting apart would have been the end of the world, but now I understand that it’s a normal thing at our age.

I’d say the Megan of Entry One ("December 9, 2002") was scared of her future. She hadn’t found her place in her family, her circle of friends, or her world. It’s fascinating to me to look back on my entries and see the progression I’ve made from a scared teenager to a responsible and confident adult. There have definitely been some dark and desperate times chronicled in this diary, and I won’t sensor those. Those days, as depressing as they were, shaped who I am today. I had to see those dark times and find the strength I needed to overcome. It amazes me that Bobby and I grew up in the same town, yet we didn’t meet until we were in our mid-20’s. More specifically, we met right after I got out of a serious(ly wrong) relationship, and at the exact perfect time to find each other. I wouldn’t have been emotionally or psychologically ready for him had I met him any earlier. It just goes to show that God knows what He’s doing. So right now, at age 25, I’d have to say that I’m pleased with where I am and am excitedly looking to the near future.

Here’s to a happy 2011!