I wasn’t going to do this because the last 10 years have been pretty damn awful but they have also been transformational in many ways - and I’m not sure I’d change them. I truly believe I’m a better all-round person now a decade on than I was at the turn of 2010. So, here goes 1/ https://twitter.com/stfutony/status/1193954501620690944

The biggest achievement is still being here despite everything that’s been thrown at me. I’ve gone through more in 10 years than some manage in 30. The decade began with an engagement, then marriage in 2010 then separation in 2014 and divorce in 2015. But I came through that 2/

I’ve survived the intense grief, loss loneliness and depression of losing my mum in 2012, my stepmum in 2014 and then my dad in 2017. I often underestimate the effect that’s had on me. Along with the grieving for a married life I expected to build until I finally shuffled off 3/

Physically I’ve survived an intense seven hour operation on my bowel to remove my colon and replace it with an ileostomy. An op I swore I’d never have but that saved my life ultimately. So that’s certainly an achievement. And my health has been the best its ever been since 4/

Mentally I’ve worked so hard through lots of counselling and therapy and deep personal development to become a much better version of myself. I still get anxious. I still get low. I still get mildly depressed I guess it would be termed. But I’ve changed hugely for the better 5/

Work-wise I’ve made life as a freelancer work/pay for the whole decade. I’ve built a good reputation for what I do and how I do it and while maybe I’m not as invested in my career as I was in my 20s, it’s brought me to where I am now + opened paths that weren’t there before 6/

I got a dog in 2013 and that’s certainly one of my biggest achievements. And I’ve travelled on my own to Oz, holidayed solo, seen tonnes of theatre, made a load of new friends, experienced stuff I’d never imagined and found joy where I could despite the terrible hard times 7/

So, while it’s easy to define 2010-2019 by the huge, irreversible and life-changing losses I’ve suffered and their fallout, it’s also been a time where I’ve begun to find and understand myself more than I ever have in my life. I’m nowhere near the finished article yet but 8/

I am going into 2020 with lots of ideas, hopes and dreams that would never have been in my head 10 years ago. Whether I reflect back in 2029 on achieving them remains to be seen but that’s the adventure right? There’s still plenty to do, see, achieve and give to others 9/

So yes, plenty of achievements and a lot more to come I hope. And I must remember to pat myself on the back for that, recognise what I’ve come through successfully and understand that where I am now is where I’m meant to be. I’ll be pleased to leave the 2010s behind though! /End

PS: What I’ve learned when all is not going great is be grateful for what I have - not what I don’t. Not always easy but I do my best to reflect on it when I can. I’m still very lucky & even when I feel alone, know I have many good people around me + new decade = fresh start.