Oh, honey. No.

Social media outlets have been abuzz this week with the #10yearchallenge. The goal, other than to gather more data and update facial recognition software - funny how no one is talking about that part! - is to share one of your first Facebook profile pictures, which would have been about 10 years ago for many people, and compare it to a current picture. Now that we constantly see images from the past with programs like Facebook's Memories and apps like #timehop, I think we've lost a bit of that nostalgia. Not that long ago, it would have been somewhat remarkable to see pictures of ourselves from past decades, but seeing them every day has lessened some of that wow factor. Nevertheless, taking a few moments to consider where we are and how we have changed over the last ten years still holds something powerfully reflective. 

When I did this for the social media posts, I suddenly became very aware of the emotions I associated with that time in my life. Rather than any sort of regrets or sadness, two natural responses to what I was going through at the time, I felt this overwhelming sense of forgiveness and gratitude. 29-year-old Melissa went through so much to help me get where I am. She was a mess, but she was strong, and resilient, and wildly optimistic. Looking at pictures from that time, it's hard to believe that I was surrounded by so many people, yet so heartbreakingly lonely because I was so uncomfortable with myself. As I stared at those pictures, I realized how capable we are of being kinder, gentler, and more powerful every single day. 

Image: 39 y/o me looking back at 29 y/o me with love, gratitude, and forgiveness. And a healthy amount of smirky "you have have no idea how incredible these next ten years are going to be" mixed with a little "oh, honey. no."