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It took me quite some time to accept the fact I was leaving my 20s and entering a new decade. I didn’t look or feel 30 so why should I accept the age? I think I even lied the first year of entering this new decade. That, or I would walk away when someone asked how old I was.
After my mind put me in check and shook me out of the funk, I began to see the perks and how great things have been in this new decade.
Celebrations
So far my 30s have been jammed pack with weddings, baby showers, birthday parties of my friend’s children, and graduations. At times I do gripe at the number of events I have to go to but looking back now, it’s quite special to be included in these special moments of your friend’s lives. Instead of drunken debauchery memories, I have memories of friends walking down the aisle to the man of their dreams.
Financially stable/conscious
I don’t think money actually touched my hands in my 20s. Come to think of it, I’m sure it was spoken for way before it hit my bank account. I never thought about retirement or saving 10% of my earnings. I never worried about debt. My mindset was, “I can always make more money.” {As if it grew on trees… tsk, tsk} I’m literally shaking my head at my naïve and silly self.
Now in my 30s, the first thing I do when I get paid is to pay myself. Contributions go into my savings, retirement plans, and opportunity fund. I don’t like to call it an “emergency fund” because it has a negative connotation to it. An opportunity fund!!… now, that’s something exciting and worth saving for. This habit of being financially conscious has allowed me to splurge {and not feel guilty} in areas that I couldn’t in my 20s.
Experiences
My 30s have pushed me to experience more. Who knew there was life outside of partying in Vegas?! {Something a 23 year old Dary would say.} Even the little things like drinking wine with my meals or wearing lipstick. Yes, wearing lipstick is an experience… haha! Somehow, without asking or being prompted too, my mind reassured me that this is my time — my time to experience life and have fun. To say that I surfed in Hawaii is a huge accomplishment for me. I’m deathly afraid of the ocean. However, instead of feeling afraid that day, I was calm and excited to try something new.
You just don’t give a ….
I don’t know if I’ve become selfish or self absorbed but people’s thoughts and actions don’t bother me anymore. I use to get sucked into so much drama… to the point where I felt ill or couldn’t sleep. Nowadays, if it doesn’t affect me or my family directly, I could really give a rat’s arse.
BIO
Dary who blogs at Beyond the 9-5 and it took some time for Dary to come to accept that she was turning 30, but once she realized all the wonderful parts of being in her 30s, she isn’t looking back and only looking to her exciting future.
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