Today’s my 30th birthday! And naturally, there’s no better way to ring in this new decade of adulthood than 1) having it fall on a Monday this year, and 2) reporting for Virtual Jury Duty starting at 7:45AM. But this is why I ALWAYS try to intentionally celebrate my birthday a few days before or the weekend prior than on my actual birth date – clearly many things tend to happen on the day of that I’ve learned my lesson. Consider this #1 of the list of 30 things I’ve learned over the years LOL.

In all seriousness, I’m so happy to be turning 30 today. I’ve always wanted to say I’m “Thirty, Flirty & Thriving” ever since I heard the phrase prayed by young Jenna Rink’s mouth while huddled in a basement closet wishing she was anyplace else on her 14th Birthday. I think we can all relate to that feeling of wishing we were ahead & past from whatever was bothering us at a given time in our teenage lives. But little do we realize there’s so much we’re learning about ourselves during that time that ultimately shapes who we become by the age we’re looking forward to being. For most, I’d say it’s turning 21 but for me, it was strangely ages 25 and 30 I was most looking forward to growing up.

Although my young childhood memories have faded in the specific department, there are a select few moments that got stored in the long term memory that I still think about today. As I’ve grown up and now have officially left my Twenties behind as of 11:59PM yesterday, I want to share 30 things I’ve learned over the years that I feel have led me to where I am today – someone who’s excited to be turning another year older & extremely happy with the person I’ve become.

IT’S OKAY TO BE THE EMPATHETIC ONE

BE KIND TO STRANGERS

USE YOUR MANNERS, IT’S NOTICED WHEN YOU DON’T

APOLOGIZE WHEN YOU’RE INVOLVED, SAYING ‘SORRY’ IS RESPECTED

FLEX YOUR BACKBONE WHEN WARRANTED

IT’S OKAY TO FIRE FRIENDS

TREAT ‘SELF-CARE’ AS A JOB RESPONSIBILITY

DON’T SAY ANYTHING BEHIND BACKS THAT YOU WOULDN’T SAY TO FACES

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVENESS IS TACKY

MAKE YOUR BED EVERY MORNING

LISTEN TO YOUR GUT, IT’S SERIOUSLY ALWAYS RIGHT

A SACRIFICE TODAY COULD BE A SUCCESS TOMORROW

TO-DO LISTS MAKE EVERYTHING EASIER

IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT, THEN CHANGE IT

BUT DON’T CHANGE WHO YOU ARE FOR SOMEONE ELSE

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE WHO RESPECT THE HUSTLE

MAINTAIN YOUR OWN LIFE/INTERESTS IN ANY RELATIONSHIP

RELATIONSHIPS SHOULD BE A TWO-WAY STREET, EXIT IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A ONE-WAY

SERIOUS HEARTBREAK LEADS TO A FULLER HEART

WEAR SPF EVEN IF IT’S NOT SUNNY

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START FROM SCRATCH

STANDARDS SHOULD REMAIN HIGH, BUT EXPECTATIONS SHOULD REMAIN FLEXIBLE

IT’S OKAY TO CHANGE YOUR MIND

EMBRACE THE LOWS, APPRECIATE THE HIGHS

YOU’RE NEVER TOO FULL NOR TOO OLD FOR DESSERT

BE MINDFUL OF THE GOLDEN RULE

DON’T STRESS ABOUT THE THINGS YOU CANNOT CONTROL

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF A WRITTEN CARD/NOTE

YOU’LL ALWAYS BE DISCOVERING WHO YOU ARE

HAPPINESS SHOULD BE YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, NO EXCEPTIONS

I’m so grateful to be celebrating another year around the sun, to be able to do what I love each & every day and for all the incredible people I’ve met along the way. Cheers to 30 – the start of this amazing decade & all that’s to come in these next 10 years!