in 2019, i found a journal at target called 2,000 things about me. i love things like this—books full of lists, all about me and what i love. narcissistic? maybe. but honestly, it’s more about the writing than the self-delving.
in 2020, after doing some soul homework with my new self, i decided to revisit the journal. i was ready to shred my old, less-than-perfect self and prove how much i’d grown.
reading through it recently, i couldn’t help but laugh at 2020 me—so high and mighty, crossing out half of my 2019 answers. who did i think i was?
kari 2.0, apparently.
last year, i found the same journal at meijer-this one with a thousand more questions.
bring. it. on.
i finished it, and i thought it would be fun to compare my answers with 2019 and 2020 me.
so here are 20 of them for your reading pleasure.
i truly believe that if i didn’t have a blog or a journal – or do my soul homework – i’d be insufferable. it’s good to peek into my dark corners now and then, even if it comes in the form of a 3,000-question get-to-know-me journal from the store.
but all joking aside, this has also been a fascinating experiment during a very interesting stretch of life. between 2019 and 2025, i lived through a pandemic, shifts in our political landscape, deep soul-changing work, menopause, one daughter leaving for college, another navigating public school after homeschooling, the death of a childhood friend while we were no longer speaking, and then the loss of my father.
what a gift this journaling has been—and continues to be.
1- what do you need to grow?
2019 — huh?
2020 — i was so negative last year! i’m growing now — i need to keep reading, listening to others, and love myself.
2025 — space, love, empathy, kindness, nature, animals
2- what’s the first impression you want to give people?
2019 — i’m happy and funny
2020 — that i’ve got good energy
2025 — that i listen when they talk
3- if you could live anywhere, where would that be?
2019 — california: on the ocean, destin, in the mountains
2020 — same, or maybe europe
2025 — where i live now
4- do you have a nerdy side? if so, what brings it out?
2019 — john hughes trivia
2020 — same, and music trivia as well
2025 — i’m all nerdy side
5- what is the simplest truth you can express in words?
2019 — (i left it blank)
2020 — it’s not you, it’s them
2025 — we all die
6- if you started a business tomorrow, what would it be?
2019 — house flipping
2020 — home staging, candle making, donut making, puppy adoption
2025 — reiki, massage, grief support
7- describe mondays for you in one word or phrase
2019 — long
2020 — just another day
2025 — reset
8- what is the best thing about being you?
2019 — i’m very caring and friendly
2020 — i’m forgiving, i’m learning, i’m growing
2025 — i notice the little things
9- what relationship or friendship do you regret ended?
2019 — it used to bother me about friends i’ve lost, but now, i honestly have no regrets
2020 — none. i’ve moved on.
2025 — wendy
10- what is something you’re doing that you never thought you would do?
2019 — writing a blog
2020 — soul searching
2025 — yoga
11- what is something you don’t mind paying more money for?
2019 — massage or pedicure
2020 — food
2025 — weed
12- what or who made the biggest impression on you in the last year?
2019 — ella
2020 — me
2025 — grief
13- name your biggest what if
2019 — what if i went away to college?
2020 — what if i didn’t fail?
2025 — what if none of us had childhood trauma?
14– what do you need more of?
2019 — sunshine
2020 — sunshine, confidence, bravery
2025 — time away from social media
15- what is the best thing to happen to you this year?
2019 — therapy and going to california
2020 — slowing down, soul homework
2025 — watching my daughters follow their dreams
16- what is your vision for you and your family’s future?
2019 — to still be close
2020 — to have a close bond
2025 — i don’t have one. one day at a time.
17- what’s something new you learned about yourself?
2019 — i have adhd (i didn’t get diagnosed, so i don’t know why i wrote this 🤣)
2020 — i’m done with my periods forever
2025 — i don’t enjoy cleaning, but i do enjoy the result
18- what is the main quality you think makes you a good parent?
2019 — putting their needs ahead of mine
2020 — listen and apologize when i’m wrong
2025 — deep compassion and emotional maturity
19- if happiness were the national currency, what kind of work would make you rich?
2019 — decorating homes
2020 — writing
2025 — helping create zen / safe / quiet spaces in other’s homes
20- if someone asked you to give them a random piece of advice, what would you say?
2019 — stay at home with the kids
2020 — live moment to moment
2025 — take care of yourself first – mentally and physically – before taking care of others
journaling has been a gift—sometimes fun, sometimes serious, always a way to check in with myself. maybe if you peek into your own corners every now and then, you’ll notice the ways you’re shifting, too. 💜🌈
Discover more from A Grace Full Life
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
A Grace Full Life 
Thanks for sharing such a vulnerable glimpse into your mind. I love observing the change over time. 💜🌈
Also “that i listen when they talk” is such a great first impression goal, and the random piece of advice to take care of yourself first is so good, and something I think we ALL need to be reminded of.
I may need to track down this journal or one similar. It looks like a lot of fun!
LikeLike
This is very interesting! 2025 Kari possesses a pronounced maturity that 2019/2020 Kari didn’t quite have. Or maybe it’s a world-weariness. Either way, I laughed over your answer to #11. Funny how our priorities change based on what’s going on in our lives, huh? I wish I had done these journals; it would be fun to compare. Best I can do is read through my old blog posts, as I have been doing for quite some time now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My mom filled out most of that 2000 book and mailed it to me! That’s fun! She and I also did a mother/daughter scrapbook before she died. You can build so many fun projects around things like this.
LikeLike
I love seeing how much you’ve grown through those tough years. Kari 2025 has great answers.
LikeLike
This was so neat to read! I love seeing how your answers changed over time.
LikeLike