We’re nearly one whole month into the new year and the new decade but I still find I’m reflecting on the last ten years. I guess it’s natural – after all, ten years is a long time! Looking back on it, I’m amazed by how much has changed, but I’m even more amazed by how much has stayed the same.
The biggest change I see is how much more settled down Hayden and I are. Ten years ago we were living in London and in the midst of planning both our move to New York and our wedding. We were facing some huge changes but we were so excited about them! At the same time, it can’t be overlooked that ten years ago I was incredibly sick, and overshadowing our excitement was the uncertainty around whether I would get better in time to truly enjoy what 2010 would bring (or, if I’m being truly honest, whether I would get better at all, but I try not to dwell on that). For those of you who don’t know me personally, I’m very pleased to say that not only did I get better, but I got better dramatically fast after trying a new medication in the first few months of 2010, and thanks to that medication I am still in remission to this day. Hurray for medical science!
New York worked out, but if it hadn’t it would have been easy to make a new decision and move on with not too much being lost along the way. Such is the joy of being young and unencumbered! As the decade moved on, though, we gradually got more encumbered – we bought our first property in early 2013 while still living abroad, I moved back to Auckland mid-2013 for a serious career upgrade, at the end of 2014 Hayden moved back, and in the first couple of months of 2015 we bought another property (hey there Wonderview) and I started my Masters degree. Late 2015 Hayden started on a career change that challenged him initially but ended up improving both our lives massively. In 2016 I got pregnant, we bought another property (hey there uptown apartment), sold the very first property, and prepared for the complete life-changing awesomeness of Amelie.
The next three years were spent changing nappies and not sleeping.
I’m joking! There was some of that for sure but if you break the decade into three, the first third was living, growing, expanding, and learning (so so much); the second third was consolidating, preparing, enjoying our hard work and yes, learning (just as much); and that last third was loving. We’ve travelled, made new friends, seen old friends, achieved a lot, and of course, we have once again done a lot of learning – but most of all we’ve just been loving. Loving each other, our Amelie, our family, and our life.
I feel so lucky to be living this life with Hayden and Amelie. Ten years ago, I knew Hayden and I were going to build something great together, but I could never have predicted just how great it was going to end up being. Growing up with him over the last ten years has made them some of the happiest of my life. I’m so excited for the next decade! I know that with Hayden and Amelie by my side it’ll be fantastic – and I hope in ten years’ time I’m once again looking back, amazed at how fantastic it has been, and in ways I could never imagine now.
The Judd Crew 