Sunday, February 6, 2011

30

The big birthday has arrived - today I turn 30 and will celebrate the passing of another decade of life. I've gone from dreading 30 to being afraid of 30 (embarrassingly) to being excited for 30 over the course of the last year.

Even though I told myself I'd use that 30 before 30 list to focus on things in my control, over the past year my mind still gravitated towards the things that are not in my control. However, I am getting closer to accepting that not everything is going to work out according to the time line in my mind.

So today, I am letting go of focusing on the words that don't define me (girlfriend, wife, and mother) and am celebrating the words that do. In the past 10 years, I graduated from college. I bought my first condo on my own. I became an aunt to 4 adorable nephews. I got my MBA. I ran 2 marathons. I started a blog and have met some fabulous fellow bloggers - and have plans to meet more in 2011! Most recently, I started a job that I can actually say I love! It helps to list the great things that have happened in my 20s - it reminds me how fortunate I am and how many great memories I will carry with me into my 30s.

I learned many valuable lessons in my 20s. I learned how to love and be kinder to myself. I learned that being in a relation does not necessarily = happiness. I learned that you can be more lonely in the wrong relationship than you will be when you are single. I learned that I have to make myself happy before I can be happy with someone else.

So here's to a new decade! I can't wait to see what milestones and lessons the next 10 years will hold!

And what better way to start it than with a fabulous trip to Paris! I fly out on Friday - the countdown has begun!!



(Source)

What lessons did you learn in your 20s?

23 comments:

Krysten @ Why Girls Are Weird said...

Happy happy happy birthday!

I think the most valuable lesson I have learned thus far in my 20's is that you need to hold onto the people you love and let goes of the ones you don't. Life's too short to be without those you love and waste time with people who just don't matter as much.

Hope you have a wonderful day lady!

Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields said...

You have such a great outlook and it's really inspiring me! In my 20s I have graduated college, moved across the country by myself, fallen in love and had my heart broken, completely changed my career path and started grad school. Sometimes it feels like I didn't do much in my 20s but I know that I did.

J said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!! I am only half way through my twenties but I have learned that people come in and out of your life but the ones that are meant to be with you stay with you. Plus I am still trying to learn to not sweat the small stuff but I got 5 more years to figure that one out!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Gracie said...

I love that Audrey quote! Happy birthday and have an amazing trip.
Lessons from my twenties...hm...I guess I learned to challenge the accepted.

Abby said...

Happy Birthday, Lisa!! I hope your day is amazing. I love the outlook you are having about 30! America is one of those rare cultures that looks at entering a new decade as something negative -- but it should be something exciting!

I can't believe you leave for Paris in a week. It's going to be wonderful!

I've learned in my twenties the importance of respecting and loving yourself, the neccessity for being honest with those who love you. I've learned that no matter where I am & how much I change -- my roots/where I came from will always be a major part of who I am.

Jolene - EverydayFoodie said...

Woooooooooooohoooooooooo I bet Friday can't come soon enough for you!

In my 20s so far I have learned many lessons:

- Not everyone has to like me, and I am okay with that
- I don't have to please everyone
- Not to take a single moment or thing in my life for granted, because life is so precious
- What is really important in life
- Material things mean nothing, life is about doing things not having things
- That true friends will always be there for you, and the ones that aren't true, you should let go
- Education is so important, and once you have it no one can take it away
- I am stronger than I think
- I am smarter than I think
- Life goes by so fast, each year faster than the one before, so enjoy each day

Ashley said...

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday, Lisa!
What I learned in my 20's...I think we covered that on New Year's Eve?

Love you!!! Enjoy the day and the decade. My 30's decade was a wonderful time in my life. And, I know it will be for you, too!

Erin said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favorite Francophile!!!! :) :) :)
Welcome to the 30s!!!!! I have been part of this new age bracket for 4 months---and I have to say----it feels pretty great :) My 20s had a lot of ups and downs--but that's good! Those highs and lows molded me into the person I am today :) The obstacles taught me how to overcome the tough stuff. The happy memories are ones I can look back on with a smile :)

I wish you nothing but the best for this year! And you know I TOTALLY love the Paris quote! I cannot wait to travel vicariously through your blog posts in PARIS :)

Jeanie said...

Happy Birthday, Lisa. Happy, happy, happy -- and a happy new year, new decade, new way of being!

Oh, you have indeed learned wonderful things in your twenties, and you'll learn more in your thirties (and forties, too!). I've often said it isn't what happens to you, it's how you deal with and grow with what happens to you that shapes your life. Sounds like you are growing and discovering in all the best ways!

Now I must skip down and read about your party!

Nicole said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Stephany said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

I'm only 23 and feel very innocent and naive in comparison to other people my age (which I kinda like). But in the past 23 years, I've learned that it's important to stand up for yourself and what you believe in.

Mandy said...

Happy Birthday!! LOVE YOU!

I don't think I can pinpoint a most significant lesson of my 20's. I think that one of the most important one was to just keep an open mind while exploring new avenues and meeting new people.

Kelli said...

Happy Birthday Lisa!! Hope you have a great day :)

Amber said...

Happy Birthday love! I love everything about this post. I think you're such a strong, awesome woman and I totally look up to you! You are entering your 30's with such grace, I am sure it will be a fantastic decade for you!

So far in my 20's I've learned a lot about being yourself and doing things that you enjoy doing not doing what everyone else is doing! I'm sure I will learn A LOT more lessons in the next 7 years though :)

Kelly (She Wears a Red Sox Cap) said...

Happy Birthday!!!! I'm so excited for your trip to Paris, even though I am clearly not going (though I wish I was!)

I've learned practically everything worth knowing in my 20s, so it's hard to narrow it down. But seriously, what the heck was I up to when I was 19? haha. Nah I'm just kidding, my teenage self was right about a lot of things. I was actually much more lax and go with the flow back then. Perhaps I should reconnect with my 19 year old self actually. Wow, I don't even know where I WENT with this comment!

Charbelle said...

Happy Happy Happy Birthday!!!! You have accomplished so much in your decade of the 20's and your decade of the 30's is going to be even more amazing!!!! I can't believe the countdown to your trip has begun, this is just amazing!!! So excited for you!!! Here's to an absolutely incredible 30th year!!!!

Carolina John said...

Happy birthday again! And welcome to the new age group. It's good to be the youngest in the age group - everyone you're competing against is older and slower than you. Go find a 5k and kick ass!

30 is nothing to be scared of. Being in your 30's makes you realize that people in their 20's are all dumbasses. It will come, I promise.

Carolina John said...

Oh, and how did you do with the 30 before 30 list? maybe you finished it off a while ago and I missed it. You should do a recap post of the list.

crystal said...

Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!!!! I love your outlook on this birthday and where you are in life, you have such a happy, honest, and healthy demeanor, its wonderful to see. Im so excited for you to fly out to Paris and I can not wait to hear all about it! :)

Leigh said...

Happy, happy birthday Lisa! I hope you had a fabulous day and a fabulous birthday party!

Sarah said...

I hope you had a wonderful day. My birthday's on Friday (I'm 26) and I've been freaking out over it a bit for a while. I know it's still a way off already, but I feel like my 20s are just slipping by sooo fast. I think that's the biggest lesson I've learnt so far: that life's short and it just speeds by!

Of all the things that you listed you've done / learned to do, the one that stands out the most for me is that you learned how to love and be kinder to yourself. I think this is so important for us all to learn and I'm trying to figure out the practical application for my own life.

Kyria @ Travel Spot said...

Happy Birthday! Sounds like a great party! Can I come?

I learned in my 20s to be myself. I spent a long time trying to figure out who I was, in fact I still am, but I am learning to just be me instead of trying to find someone else within myself.