CEO, Founder | Executive MBA | Certified Professional Life Coach | Podcaster | Mom + Wife
My first wedding. 2008. I was so young. 29. So young, but thought I knew so much. Thought I was way more mature than I was. Of course, I had so very much to learn. I’m struck by how much has changed—not just in the world around me, but within myself. It’s a snapshot of a moment filled with hope, love, and anticipation for the future. I was filled with dreams and plans, imagining what life would hold. What I didn’t know was just how much I would learn about myself, my strength, my power, and the depth of my heart in the 15 years that followed. In the time since that photo was taken, I’ve faced challenges I couldn’t have predicted and experienced joys I hadn’t even dreamed of. Each obstacle has taught me something new about my own resilience. I’ve discovered a well of strength within me that has carried me through the toughest times and helped me rise above them. My power has become clearer to me, not just in the sense of influence or control, but in the quiet confidence that comes from knowing who I am and what I’m capable of. My heart, too, has grown in ways. It has expanded with love, compassion, and understanding, not just for others, but for myself. I understand forgiveness, a difficult task of acceptance and freedom. This journey of self-discovery has shown me that true strength and power come from embracing both the highs and lows, and letting them shape me into someone who is stronger, wiser, and more loving. To be completely transparent, as I always am with you, I have very few regrets in my life. One is not knowing then how to be the partner that I am today. My self-work taught me I cannot shame myself for not being what I was meant to be— I was barely 30 years old. After all, I am that person now. The partner. The person I was meant to be. And here we are. Do you have any major regrets when reflecting on your life? #partnership #love #progress #reflection #forgiveness
Married on my 19th birthday. Never once did I think I was too young. Had 3 children at 25, never once did I think I was too young. Heading to 50 years together, 46 years Married, creating a beautiful family of 14 to date. I still feel young, never too young. Was it a bed of Roses? Yes, with some painful thorns. That's Life! I always go with the Flow! Feeling so blessed! ❤️
Regrets in my life? No I don't think so. Lots of things that happened to me along the way that I did not have control over I wish I didn't have to go through, but they made me who I am today. Would I do things a bit differently, perhaps. Like getting married at 21! Not even a month into being 21, but I felt older and wiser than my years! And then leaving him 10 1/2 years later taught me lots too. Everything we do, we learn and grow or at least I do. Looking beautiful as ever.
Funny that you see 29 as being "so young." When I married the first time, I was 22 and my bride was 19 [i.e., 10 years your junior]. Yes, we WERE young, and had a great deal to learn. We managed, and had a great marriage lasting nearly 48 years. I know we "beat the odds" in multiple ways. For my second marriage (this past April), I was 73 and my bride 60. While this one may not last 48 years, I will build upon what I learned during the first. As for regrets, like Old Blue Eyes, “I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” Mostly of omission, not commission.
Wow, just wow, on so many levels! LYSM
Annie I think structuring things as regrets can be a little negative. Sure, there are lots of things I could have done differently, but then I think of what has happened positively from the things I have done - and I don't think I would swap those. Part of my work as a Coach & Mentor is putting a little bit back to make sure people seize the opportunities they have.
Truly inspiring Annie Calvert, MBA, CPC when we learn from challenges, we attain the power to convert them into our strengths
It's good Annie Calvert, MBA, CPC when partners can grow together, over time, to enhance a relationship. Sometimes one partner doesn't grow at all. In other relationships the partners grow at different rates.
You sound dangerously human Annie! :) I think we all have conversations, behaviors and actions we'd like to have back. We feel because we care and that's a good thing. We ultimately learn that we can dip our toes in pity city but can't stay there and shift our focus to thoughts helping us win our next conversation, next action, etc. Great share friend.
You were beatiful then and you are beatiful now, the difference is that you have grown in your path of finding love throughout your life not just intimately but in your connection to others. I am so happy you are in a space of love, acceptance and abundance Annie Calvert, MBA, CPC
Guitar Player, Singer, Guitar Teacher at Independent Professional Musician
2wI firmly believe that most of us act in accordance with what we believe our purpose to be. As life unfolds, sometimes it becomes clear that our true purpose is not what we believed it to be. I believe that things that we regret at the time are, more often than not, course corrections so that our true purpose is realized. To have changed anything about my personal history most probably have affected it adversely and I would not be Dad to the four wonderful children (now happy and successful adults) that my ex and I were such loving parents to.