Ratha David Loun's Best of 2010's

The 2010’s Briefly by Ratha David Loun

When I look back on the 2010’s, there’s so much I could write about if only I hadn’t written it already. This decade started off on fire. I was in the moment, soaking up inspiration from every which way. I felt everything to the core. If I was high, I was astronomically-high shining bright with the stars. If I was low, I was deep beyond the depths of valleys and caskets beneath it all. Powerful emotions are a double-edged sword that I miss sometimes when I stay up late. Towards the latter part of the decade, I became caught up in inconsistency. It’s like I traded being naïve and youthful for understanding and regret. Yet and still, I’m appreciative. This decade I got to see my favorite basketball player for the first and only time during his farewell tour in 2016. I also got to see my favorite football player for the first time as well, which he led my beloved San Diego Chargers to a 17-point comeback. I’ve grown, I’ve loved and learned to love again, and I’ve met some incredible people along the way.

There was an occasion in high school when I trespassed on the pedestrian bridge on US-1 right before the Glenwood exit with a girl I was intrigued by at the time. We stayed up for hours walking and talking about working at Andy’s, past experiences, and life. We ended the night at Waffle House around 2 in the morning. Months later, she revealed to me that our conversation that night, when getting to know each other, made her fall in love with me. I think about that sometimes when I convince myself I’m in love or when I believe myself to be falling into love. Though the process may be gradual or instantaneous, at what moment did I know? I’m rambling, but that isn’t the point. The kid who had that conversation with her on a cold December night in 2010, I hope his life is still a wildfire of emotion, inspiration, and youthfulness in a parallel universe because if only I could have a conversation with him, I’d ask him how to rekindle what’s left of this dimly-lit flame of mine.

Thank you to everyone who has kept up with me this past decade, whether it be from memoirs4rmayoungeryou to the running diary to where we’re at now, I am forever grateful for anyone who has taken the time out of their day to read even just a sentence of my writing. I hope going into this new decade will bring a new beginning for those of us in need and a continuation of joy for those of us hitting our stride.

Here’s to living our best lives in the new roaring 20’s health-wise, financially, and emotionally.

I love you all.

Below are some of my favorites from the 2010’s, an unbelievable decade.