now that i’m thirty

December 13, 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.

 


  1. cathy says:

    i am so looking forward to turning thirty.. this post just gave me more reasons to celebrate.. thanks again


  2. Lynn says:

    Your dreams and determination always make me happy. :)


  3. the stinkowtiz says:

    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.


  4. Katherine says:

    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!


  5. emmy says:

    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.


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  7. f-i-n says:

    I never understood why people made age-related lists. You are who you are…


  8. lori says:

    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!


  9. mati says:

    i love this. especially the “i could make that” bit, i do that all the time:)


  10. sarah says:

    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.


  11. Veronica says:

    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.


  12. Paige says:

    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!


  13. Swirly says:

    The 30s ROCK!


  14. muck says:

    just wait until i turn 30 in a few weeks and i’ll be able to share some thoughts with you! :)


  15. kris says:

    YES YES! drive cross country–end in Massachusetts ;)



  • I'm Christine, and this is a slice of my life—a sweet, rich, wildly indulgent slice that would taste really good with a scoop of Breyers vanilla bean ice cream. Read more >>


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