Decade in review

A lot can happen in ten years.  Looking back at the beginning of 2000, I had no idea who I was or who I was going to be.  And I still don't.  Ten years ago is a long time back.  Almost half of my life.  I was just a spoiled 13 year old kid leeching off of my parents.  I can't say I'm completely independent, but I have learned the value of a dollar.  I appreciate everything my parents do more than I did before.  Ten years ago, I had no idea where my life would lead or what purpose I had in the world.  I can honestly say that I'm still not sure.  Some people I know are lucky enough to have already found their calling in life, but I'm not as fortunate.  But, the future is unforeseeable.  I guess some things never change. 

Other things do change.  In the past decade, I have gone through many phases of music and fashion.  Almost the entire first half of this decade, I wore only what my brother wore.  I was never a fan of shopping before and he was always trying to wear what was in.  It worked out for me.  I went from "ghetto" clothes in the earlier years and later changed to more of a skater look.  It wasn't until my college career where I began to actually take pride in deciding on what I would wear.  As for music, whatever I was wearing was consistent to what I generally listened to.  The earlier years was a lot of rap and hip hop.  Then the rock and alternative phase started.  Now, there's not much I don't listen to.  Looking back at all the dumb trends and fashion faux paus of the past I hope that my current style of dress will not make me look back in regret. 

In the last ten years, I guess you can say I found love.  But if I did find it, I guess I also lost it.  It's difficult to define that line.  What I do know is that I am more open-minded about relationships and what I'm looking for.  I did things in this past decade I would have never predicted back then. 

Never say never.  When I was 13, I thought San Francisco was where I wanted to live for the rest of my life.  I said I would never date anyone who wasn't Chinese (or Asian).  I thought I'd never get sick of video games.  I always said I'd never be addicted to gambling.  I told myself when I'd go to Reno or Vegas that I would be one of those older kids hanging out at the arcade still playing Street Fighter and Area 51.  I guess all of that has changed.  I'm sick of San Francisco, I dated a black girl, I rarely play video games now (compared to the amount of hours I used to put in), I can't wait to go back to Vegas, and the last time I went to an arcade, I was drunk and playing Street Fighter.  Ten years does a lot to people.

If you haven't grown in ten years, you haven't done shit.  If you're still the same person you were back then, you probably haven't accomplished much.  There's always room for improvement so why not improve.  Everything should be a learning experience.  Take risks.  Make mistakes.  Learn what life is about.

Until 2019,

Keep living it up.

-Alex Thunderlips