Reflecting at 30…

I am 30. 30! I feel that every year I add another year to my age and lose 2 years to my face. One day, I will get my legal ID confiscated because the bouncer won’t believe that I am the age it states on my license.

The surprises…

I thought that by this age, I would be married with 3 kids.

• I have become more able to stick up for myself, even though people have no problems making one feel like crap if they speak their mind.
• I had no idea that I would have come this far in my career.
• Honestly, 30 doesn’t feel like anything. I didn’t wake up with any sort of epiphany about the meaning of life, why the sky is blue, or a million regrets.
• I am not as nice as I used to be.
• I can’t believe how many friends I actually have. I mean real, not fake, people that would do anything for me FRIENDS. We don’t have to talk every day of the week to stay in touch, but we always come back to the same relationship when we see each other.
• I’ve been to 11 countries!!
• I actually moved away from the familiar, to live in a foreign land (Wisconsin) for over 2 years – new job, no friends, no family – and came back to California with more friends and crazier experiences.
• I still volunteer once a week.

The mistakes…
· I’ve learned so much about relationships – friends and boyfriends. Enough to avoid mistakes and stand up for myself.
· Let others’ make their own mistakes. People have blinders on, so it’s not worth it to beat them down. Now, I just say my peace – once. After that, it’s up to them. (And funny thing, I’ve always – yes always – been right.)
· Not trusting my own instincts. They’re always right too.
· Can’t change personalities. Either work with them if there is a reason to, or just avoid them if they bring you down.

· I should have exercised more.

The regrets…

• None.