Why Being 30 Rocks: Love for 30 Project

When I was 22, the thought of being thirty was downright terrifying. Obviously turning thirty meant becoming wrinkly and boring. Never did I think I would actually love this age. Here’s why being thirty rocks:

You’re more financially stable – When I was twenty, I would break the bank to go to a concert, order an appetizer at dinner, or buy a new outfit. Now that I’m in my 30s, I know the value of money, and saving for the things I want. I can better afford to take vacations and buy that killer handbag and heels I’ve been eyeing.

Drinking is enjoyable – Being in my twenties, I drank to get drunk. Double vodka cranberries and shots out of neon test tubes were typical party drinks. Now I can appreciate (and love) a glass or two of Pinot Grigio along with good company. Do I still get my buzz on? Occasionally. Am I falling down drunk? Um, not so much.

Confidence – I feel more self-assured about myself than I ever have. I’m comfortable in my own skin, and confident in what I want. It’s when I turned thirty that I started my blog. I knew writing was something I always wanted to do; I just didn’t have the confidence to go for it before.

This article is definitely not about my thirties being better than my twenties. I loved my 20s. The energy, the freedom. It was a great decade, and a lot of wonderful things happened for me. I definitely got my party on. I made new friends, and found out which old ones were true. I came and went as I pleased. I stayed up all night, and slept in on weekends. I bought my first brand new car, and I found out what hard work really meant. I met my one and only, and married him. I went to college, twice. I switched up careers, and bought a house.

When the last year of my twenties rolled around, I found out I was pregnant with my son. It was the decade where I learned who I was, and what I wanted. Now that I’m in my 30s, I recognize what is important, and what I should just let go of. I’m more confident and more self-assured. I have some solid goals and I’m going for it. No questions asked and no apologies.

If that doesn’t make you feel good about your 30s, know this: Being 30 is still young. You still have a chance of being carded; you can still keep up in an intense spin class, chase a toddler around without aches and pains, and get your party on from time to time. They don’t call it “the new twenties’ for nothing!

BIO
Shauna Jones is a bookkeeper by day, dreamer in her free time. She is the mother to an 18 month old, and loves to write about her experiences raising her son, everyday life, and everything in between at her blog Freckles and Curse Words. You can also find her on twitter.