Unlocking level 30

Hey there, I am officially “you look too good for your age ” years old. According to Pinterest, this is when people start lying about their ages. hahaha. Truth is, I have struggled to write this particular piece. I started writing it in May, and we are in July. I have so much to say, but how do you sift through three decades’ worth of experiences, wonders, lessons, and growth into one post? It’s proving to be a bit challenging at the moment.

They say everything starts to make sense when you turn 30. Well, here we are. I have officially graduated from the carefree 20s and entered the “responsible” 30s. But let’s be real, I was always an old soul at heart, and “responsible” might as well be my middle name. I hate to disappoint you, though: life doesn’t magically make sense at 30. In fact, life doesn’t make sense at all, and we’re not supposed to force it to. We’re not meant to have everything figured out by a certain age. I believe we’re supposed to just live our lives, not obsess over the questions. That’s what I’ve discovered in the few days I’ve been 30.

A lot has happened over the past few years. I will not go into detail, because you have read some of those experiences on this blog, but I know I have had laugh riots, I have cried buckets, I have loved and lost, I have travelled, met new people, lost loved ones, left friendships and made new ones, made bad decisions, regretted those decisions and learned from those decisions. The tragedy is if you do not learn. On second thought, non, je ne regrette rien. I regret nothing.

When I look back at my evolution, I realize that it has never been about turning 30 or adding another year, but rather embracing the experiences that have chiseled and shaped me into who I am today. In my twenties, I explored, discovered, learned. I faced challenges, celebrated successes, and navigated the ups and downs of life with resilience, grace and some tantrums. I will still be doing these things in my 30s, maybe with less tantrums and more grace. I have grown so much over these years- from the wide-eyed, clueless dreamer I was, to a more grounded, slightly less clueless dreamer. Now I laugh at my mistakes, instead of ostracising them. I remember the dreams I had in my twenties, and I feel like I am finally starting to catch up to them, seeing them materialize, living them.

I have so much to be grateful for. My friends, who’ve been there through thick and thin—even though I am a terrible friend to them sometimes. My family has always supported my decisions, even though we don’t always see eye to eye. And of course, all the little joys in life that make it so sweet, and sour sometimes. I am also grateful for chocolate wine. God knows how many times chocolate wine has come through.

The future is so bright. Who knows what it will bring? Maybe I will finally master the art of adulting (no pressure), or find Malcolm…hopefully. It is not easy being a baby girl, but I plan on chasing my goals and dreams with the same enthusiasm I have always had- enthusiasm and a healthy dose of humour. Life should not be taken too seriously. So cheers to me. I hope this level is filled with more laughter, love, and a few less embarrassing moments. Well, I can’t predict the embarrassing bit, but, they make for amazing stories.