Today I turn 30 years old. That feels so incredibly strange to type out. “Hello, my name is Dana and I’m 30 years old.”
I am having a bit of a hard time with this realization that I’ve completed 1/3 of my life already, because inside I still feel and act like I’m 25.
I even struggled putting my age on the internet just now for all to see. As if me having lived for this many years would somehow turn people off… make me a less desirable blogger… or stick me in a different category than all of those early 20’s beauties.
It’s a tough age for us women, and I just recently started realizing that. The fact that I am getting older and can’t go backwards kind of freaks me out, if I’m being honest.
It feels as though I’m on a strict timeline now, and I don’t like that. I already have issues with not being in control of situations and this is like the ultimate situation that I absolutely cannot control.
I’m not officially married yet, have zero interest in babies right now, and that scares the crap out of me because as you know, us women are only open for baby making business for a limited amount of time. That totally sounded like an advertisement…
Instead of wallowing in my own sorrows though, I am going to make light of the situation and talk about why being 30 is awesome.
It’s a huge milestone.
To say that I’ve lived for this many years and done everything I have done already makes me excited to see what the future holds. Ten years ago I would have never guessed that my life would be how it is now, so to think what my life will be like in another ten years is like a surprise wrapped in bows.
I’m wiser.
My 20’s were like the stepping stones to get to where I needed to be by 30. I can proudly look back on my 20’s and remember all that I learned, all of the mistakes I made, all of the heartbreaks, ups and downs, and trying to find myself, and know that I’ll never have to experience those things again.
I can feel confident.
I’ve heard many 30+ women say that turning 30 was sort of liberating. It’s when you start to really feel comfortable in your own skin and confident about who you are. You don’t need to care about what people think of you, and have learned that negativity isn’t something to concern yourself with. At 30 you know who you are.
I am on the right path.
I can honestly say that at this moment in my life I know exactly what I want to do and what I need to do to get there. It may take a few more years to get there, but knowing that I’ve lined up all my ducks in a row feels so good.
I can remember what things were like before they were things.
Remember when the internet was this new thing that suddenly became popular? No? Then you’re probably too young. Remember when only like 5% of people in high school had a cell phone and the only game on it was Snake?
Or when you would have exclusive New Kids On The Block slumber parties with your friends with your matching NKOTB sleeping bags, t-shirts, dolls, hats, kitchen utensils, and every other single piece of merchandise they branded while watching their VHS videos and screeching like a little girl? The stories I could tell my future kids will be amazing.
I can handle finances like nobody’s business.
Ask my 21 year old self about adult things like corporate taxes and mortgages and I wouldn’t even know where to begin. The things I’ve learned over these past 10 years about finances and business in general have set me up for this next stretch of my life.
When in doubt, remember Sex in The City.
All of those characters where in their 30’s and remind me that I can still have fun and there is still time for adult things later. They didn’t even start having babies until half way through the decade (or was it closer to 40?). Even in the later years of Friends, the characters were mid-30’s. Yes, I realize these are make believe people, but the idea is still there, and it’s a great reminder.
Regardless of how I feel today, I’m thankful for everything I have now more than ever. I’m sure everything will fall into place the way its supposed to and just because I’m one year older, doesn’t mean I have to live like I’m 60. I’m still that same girl, with stars in her eyes and wonder in her heart.
Here’s to another 30 years…
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This was a reminder that thirty is going to be great! i just turned thirty yesterday and i had an amazing day with my closest friend the man i have fallen in love with which made it that much better. but as i woke up today its been kind of ruff for me i just wish i could go back to yesterday and not move forward because it scares me that this path i’m on is going nowhere! I feel like ill never get this thing they call adulting down pat. I feel like i should have more under control by now! But after reading this amazing blog i know there hope for me because to look back on what i was doing ten tears ago and your right i never thought i would be where i am at 30.