I see a lot of people posting what’s changed and what’s stayed the same in the last decade. In 2010 I was midway through a graduate program in creative writing (which I chose in part because I thought you couldn’t be a rabbi unless you wanted it more than anything else—turns out you can have more than one calling!) and in 2000 I was finishing up my BA in medieval studies (because it was the closest I could get to majoring in fantasy world building, and I was sure I’d break in as an SFF writer within the next five years).

Ten years later, twenty years later, I’m back in school, working on another degree, another path to what I think will be a meaningful, happy, successful life. And you know what? Both times, I was right about the meaning and happiness. Both times, just going to the school took a leap of faith that paid off in unexpected ways. Both times, I made friends who are still a huge part of my life. Both times, I learned things that helped me grow and that continue to delight me. And both times, I was totally wrong about where I’d be in ten years, where my path was leading me, because the things that are most meaningful to me now are things I didn’t know I wanted (let alone, things I could accomplish) until I’d done more growing. So I fully expect my 2030 self to be nothing like I imagine. I can’t wait to meet her.