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now that i'm thirty
13 December 2005 |
When I was a little girl, "thirty" sounded ancient and mysterious. So did getting married and having a checking account and driving your very own car wherever you want. It must be amazing, I thought, to be all grown up! I couldn't imagine life getting any better than that and I certainly couldn't imagine getting any older.
Throughout childhood and my younger adulthood, thirty sounded a lot less magical, but a lot more accomplished. I had a running list in my head of things I wanted to do by the time I turned 30. Places I wanted to go, people I thought I'd meet, accomplishments I was sure I'd have under my belt. If I don't cross everything off the list by, I thought, I'm a failure.
Everyone I know who has seen their 30th birthday come and go, though, say that thirty is when it starts to get really good. So, during the weeks leading up to my birthday, I decided to make a new kind of list. The list of things I want to accomplish now that I'm older, wiser and braver. Here are some of them:
- Make a book. I say "make" instead of "write" because I'm not entirely sure what kind of book this will be. I just know that it's stirring inside me.
- Start a family. I've already begun this by welcoming Rama into my life. This transformation is one of the most beautiful and fragile things about becoming engaged.
- Take good care of my body. I've been blessed with good health to this day, but I can't rely on luck to stay healthy. I need to work at it.
- Eat well. And that doesn't mean eat lavishly and luxuriously nor does it mean zero carbs or sugar. It does mean eating my vegetables and cooking more than once a month.
- Learn how to sew. I am always saying "I could make that," but I never ever do. Enough of that! I'm going to sew skirts and pillows and pouches once and for all.
- Drive across the country. I've always wanted to drive across the country. I've been up and down a lot of both coasts, and I can't wait to see the middle.
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Enjoyed visiting your site. Bipop | July 2, 2006 11:51 PM |
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YES YES! drive cross country--end in Massachusetts ;) kris | January 4, 2006 07:51 AM |
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just wait until i turn 30 in a few weeks and i'll be able to share some thoughts with you! :) muck | December 21, 2005 07:18 PM |
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The 30s ROCK! Swirly | December 20, 2005 06:32 PM |
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The 30s are a great decade. You really start to begin to be sure of yourself. The 40s bring on positive of yourself & the 50s, well I don't know hopefully a full sense of being! Paige | December 19, 2005 10:54 AM |
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I'm also looking forward to thirty. My twenties have been quite the learning experience. I'm praying the lessons I'll learn over the next decade aren't as hard to swallow. Veronica | December 18, 2005 05:17 PM |
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the only list i had for "by the time i am 30" is to be married + have a kid, and get a decent job and finish up school. Well, at 25, i am married, have a beautiful 2-year-old PLUS we just found out that we are having another in late july 06!!; i have an awesome job (a writing advisor), and i am very close to finishing school. sarah | December 17, 2005 06:50 PM |
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i love this. especially the "i could make that" bit, i do that all the time:) mati | December 17, 2005 01:15 PM |
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I guess I'd have to second that advice about 30. I think I came into a lot more wisdom and confidence in myself at that stage. I always hated it when I was younger and older people would give me their version of "sage" advice, but I think it's true. You just don't know it until you get there yourself. Welcome! lori | December 16, 2005 06:04 PM |
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I never understood why people made age-related lists. You are who you are... f-i-n | December 16, 2005 08:20 AM |
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Online Casinos Tips and Resources Susan | December 16, 2005 03:14 AM |
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the best thing about being in your 30s, is that the head trips you went through in your 20s somehow stop - and you realize that you wouldn't be the person you are now if it weren't for the person you were in your 20s, and for that, you end up being very grateful. emmy | December 15, 2005 05:50 PM |
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That's a good list! Especially the sewing. I need to learn that too. Good luck and have fun with the next decade of your life! Katherine | December 14, 2005 11:17 PM |
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you know, i got to hear your "now that i'm thirty" philosophy first hand. it is more than contagious. it is true! "older, wiser, braver." there are so many things that were out of reach or incomprehensible when we were younger. i find myself quoting you so often. in my mind and to others. the stinkowtiz | December 14, 2005 01:01 PM |
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Your dreams and determination always make me happy. :) Lynn | December 14, 2005 08:24 AM |
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i am so looking forward to turning thirty.. this post just gave me more reasons to celebrate.. thanks again cathy | December 14, 2005 06:37 AM |