When you hear “’tis the season,” you might get excited, thinking I’ll be talking about Christmas\u2014or even Christmas in July. I don’t mean to burst your bubble if you’re one of those doing a “countdown to Christmas,” but I’m referring to the season for class reunions<\/strong>\u2014the high school kind, not Marita’s awesome C.L.A.S.S. workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Summer is often reunion season, when we gather with people we haven’t seen in anywhere from five to sixty-five years who share the same alma mater.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Does the thought of a high school reunion leave you with excitement or trepidation? Have you attended one of yours or even helped with the planning? Whether you choose to leave those relationships in the past or reconnect with former classmates in the present, thinking about a reunion can stir up flashbacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reunions are a great time to gather and reminisce about marching band moments, crazy camps, fun (yet sometimes awkward) dances, glory days of competitions and sporting events, favorite teachers, sleepover shenanigans, dates gone wrong\u2014or maybe right, leading to marrying Mr. Right!\u2014and carefree times in general.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, looking back can also trigger unpleasant memories such as losing the state championship, huge heartbreaks, cliques, horribly embarrassing moments, or even “mean girls.” Let’s face it\u2014some kids could be cruel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n High school. It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Times have changed. At reunions we laugh about “back in the day” when there was no…<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’m thankful there isn’t a video of the day I was driving a friend home from school when a couple of cute guys in the car next to us yelled, asking us to share some of the cookies we were eating. My friend rolled down her passenger window, stretched halfway out of the car to hand over a cookie while I matched the other car’s speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n No, we didn’t get caught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If that happened today, I’m sure it would have gone viral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Four years led up to graduation\u2014the day we had all worked so hard to achieve. Do you remember yours?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I confess I don’t remember much about the ceremony or the parties, but I do remember having far more questions than answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What career would I choose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If I went to college, would it live up to my expectations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n How would I meet my future spouse?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I was excited about no more curfews or parental oversight, even while wondering how I’d balance classes, studying, tuition, and living expenses as I pursued my dream of independence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After graduation, some of us felt insecure and uncertain about the future, while others felt excited, unburdened, and invincible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We dreamed of meaningful careers, happy marriages, and lives that would somehow unfold exactly as we imagined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At reunions, we remember those who are no longer with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As for you, you’ll probably be asked whether you reached your dream destination\u2014or whether life sent you on a few unexpected detours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We share stories about careers, raising children, the joy of grandchildren (often accompanied by a few of the 50,000 photos on our phones), caring for aging parents, and sometimes the physical and emotional wounds we’ve carried through devastating losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make no mistake\u2014you’ve survived 100% of your worst days.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At this stage of life, we have more memories behind us than ever before. Yet just as a car’s rearview mirror is smaller than its windshield, we were never meant to spend more time looking back than looking ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now you probably have more answers than questions\u2014and yet you may still find yourself asking,<\/p>\n\n\n\n “What am I going to do with the rest of my life?”<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our best life wasn’t only back then in the glory days of youth. It can be right now\u2014because now we have wisdom we didn’t have then, perspective we couldn’t have imagined, and the freedom to decide what this next chapter will become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even if we can no longer dance at our reunion after a hip or knee replacement, reunions are wonderful because they allow us to open the memory box for a little while, reconnect with our younger selves, and celebrate the people we’ve become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What are your current dreams, hopes, and aspirations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s never too late to make this your best decade yet.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a few moments and drop me a line below. Share something you’re dreaming about or looking forward to in this stage of life\u2014or tell us one of your favorite high school or reunion memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Please read these foundational posts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Life Dream Story<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best-Life Definition<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wendy Clements<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nHigh School<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We Had It Rough down “Memory Lane”…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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In the “Good Ole Days” We Did Have…<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Graduation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dreams<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
And Here We Are<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Now<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What are you looking forward to in your future?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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