Goodbye 20s, Hello 30s!
- Dec 29, 2015
- 5 min read
Here are 30 of the best kept secrets about turning 30. Spoiler alert: it's great.
Now that I’m old and wise, I’m going to let you in on a little secret that nobody tells you about turning 30. It’s awesome. And that’s because it means you’ve survived your 20s.
Yes, your 20s are like a whirlwind of fun and freedom, but they’re also a bit of a friggin’ mess. You make mistakes – a lot of them – with fashion, dating, and just overall poor life choices. Then, somewhere around 28, the shadow of 30 starts quickly approaching and you think, “Oops, I really need to get my shit together.” So, you kick it into high gear and start some serious adulting. And just as you think you’re getting the hang of it, 29 comes along and kicks you right in the ass. It’s like a giant reminder of all the chaos that ensued in the past decade all rolled into one year. Great.
But somewhere in the middle of 29, you get fed up with the crap. You’re so done with the mess of your 20s and that’s when the magic happens. You look 29 square in the eyes and say, “Hey, screw you, 29. You wanna see an ass kicking? I will show you an ass kicking.” Nothing gets you moving like constantly being reminded that you’re getting older – even though 30 is by no means old – but it is when you start actually living. You don’t put up with being treated poorly and you certainly don’t waste your time on the petty stuff. You do, however, figure out easier ways to enjoy your guilty pleasures without the consequences – like using a curling iron without singeing off your bangs (true story). No, you still may not have your shit together when you turn 30, but now you thank all the holy heavens that you’re armed with more experience. So today, as I turn 30, allow me to share with you some of the infinite and refined wisdom I’ve gathered in the past year.
30 Lessons I Learned Turning 30
1) Suck it up and go get properly measured for a bra. It will change your life.
2) If you can’t get a guy who’s no good for you off your mind, it’s because you have too much time on your hands. Get a hobby.
3) A leather jacket is the perfect lazy way to pull an outfit together. It takes a dress to edgy and a t-shirt to going-out. I like it.
4) Being at the beginning of the right path is SO much better than being at the end of the wrong one. I was happier when I was single, unemployed, and living with my parents than I was when I was when I was at a toxic job and sharing an apartment with the wrong partner.
5) Say “screw it” and go out. Stop making excuses and start making experiences.
6) It’s ok to let go of things you said you’d never do. As long as you’re not compromising your values, just do it. You may find out you’ve been missing out.
7) I really like wearing spandex and I won’t apologize for it.
8) Always carry a travel-size toothbrush and toothpaste.
9) Surround yourself with people you admire and be inspired everyday. Celebrate each other.
10) Flying by yourself is surprisingly relaxing. Plus, there are lots of other solo travelers, which
makes the airport bar really fun!
11) Get your eyebrow game together! Invest in good brow gel, both clear and tinted.
12) If life takes a new direction, it does not invalidate everything you put into the other direction. Everything you accomplished from that hard work is still just as valuable. What you do along the way always matters.
13) Do not work in fear of losing your job. Work with integrity and know what you’re doing is right. If you lose your job because of it, then tough shit for them.
14) There IS an easy way to do winged eyeliner without looking too dramatic. Learn it.
15) Bubble baths are not that relaxing. The water cools and it barely covers your body because of the safety drain. I need a hot tub.
16) Leave your baggage in the past and take a chance on the nice guy. Allow him to treat you well without fearing where it will go wrong.
17) Allow yourself to have a crap day. Acknowledge that it’s shitty, then wake up the next day and have the best damn day ever!
18) Delete ALL online dating profiles at some point and just let it be. Plus, it’s a serious waste of your cellular data.
19) Do good. There are too many ways to get involved for you to not do good. Stop being an asshole and just do it.
20) Be selfish. This is not the same as being greedy, but make yourself a priority.
21) There are lots of things to just endure until it’s over – a bad movie, a crap day at work, an annoying boss. Life is not one of those things. Do not endure an unhappy life until it’s over. You CAN make changes and you deserve to live your best life.
22) It’s time to learn the art of proper soft waves. Curl hair away from your face, very briefly, and only part way up. Bye bye Little Bo Peep curls, hello Beyoncé wind machine!
23) Take a whole year to yourself. Go through all the different seasons focusing on things that make you happy.
24) If you want to do something and can’t get someone to do it with you, do it anyway. Travel, go to the movies, eat, start a Fantasy Football league. Just do it.
25) Get rid of everything you don’t use. Donate it. And if you’re stuck on an item, think “will someone love this more than I do right now?” One of the best things I saw this year was at my garage sale when a little girl beamed with joy when she hugged my old stuffed animal puppy. It was her new best friend!
26) Explore a new city by yourself. Wear comfy shoes but do not dress like a tourist.
27) In order to really understand someone, don’t jump to conclusions about what you think they’re going to say.
28) Don’t apologize for taking a ton of selfies when you’re adventuring. It’s better to capture yourself in memories than to feel silly and not.
29) Don’t be so busy searching for others that you forget to discover yourself, and don’t be so busy exploring yourself that you neglect to discover others.
30) Every time you have a rough year or hit a tough spot, it means something kick ass is about to happen. It never fails. These are the times that make us think, wait, what the hell am I doing? And then you start making moves.
31) Because you know, one for good luck: Take your biggest fear and tackle the shit out of it!
The old never bothered me anyway.
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