It’s not the years, it’s the mileage.

My 10-year high school reunion is this weekend. (Eek!) Facebook has probably ruined a lot of the surprise for these sorts of things – you already know who has 3 kids, who’s a dentist, who let themselves go, etc. But one thing Facebook doesn’t tell you is how your classmates and friends have changed over the last 10 years. What kind of people have they become? Are they stronger? Are they weaker? Are they regretful? These are the things I really want to know from the friends I left behind when I went off to Nebraska instead of staying in Iowa for college. Not keeping better in touch is one of the things I would have liked to do over.

It seems like high school was yesterday, so I don’t feel like I’ve changed much. I’m still the band geek who loves to travel and willing to volunteer for almost anything, but now I have better hair days (most of the time). But I know I’ve changed.

I’m more confident in what I can do and can contribute and have worked hard over the past couple years to get to a place professionally where I’m happy, but still uncomfortable only because I’m learning constantly.

I take better care of myself, because I firmly believe that if I don’t do that, I can’t take care of others, including my clients. Everyone needs a brain break, or to do something for themselves every once in a while, if not every day, and they should also feel like it’s ok to leave at 5…ish. I made a new purse for myself last night to show off to my old classmates, and it’s almost like a reward (even though I put several hours into it) for kicking ass during the day.

I’ve definitely learned life isn’t all about making money like it was when I was making $6/hour at JCPenney, only to spend it there during the sidewalk sale. It’s about making it worthwhile to yourself, and to your family and friends through always learning and growing constantly, especially from the people you now surround yourself with.

So even though I don’t have kids yet, or live in a gigantic house in the suburb, or miraculously grew another 3 inches, I know I have good things to share with the people I haven’t seen in a decade, and I am so looking forward to learning about their accomplishments. I hope they’re in as good a place as I am.

Chelsea Fitch is a well-practiced purse maker, cake baker and caretaker. She's also an Interactive Account Manager at Barkley, serves as the Vice President for ad2 and was a 2010 ad2 Member of the Year Nominee.