My 30th birthday is fast approaching and the closer it gets, the more excited about it I am. Yes, it’s a birthday and that means presents (hopefully, if I’m lucky) and being the centre of attention for the day (or week, if I can manage my usual stringing-it-out trick). But 30 is something of a milestone. Last year when I turned 29 I was all ‘gah, 30 next year, that’s so depressing’, but now that the time has actually come, I not at all bothered about it. As my friend said the other day, a birthday is just the passage of time, and she is now 37 and not worried about it at all.
However, it has got me looking at my life and I can honestly say that I am pretty happy with where I’m at right now. I have a job (not something we can all say in the present economy) and my blog is providing me with some sideline writing opportunities which I hope will continue to grow. I have an amazing boyfriend, fab friends (both offline and on), and for once in my life I am happy with the way I look. My style may be in transition from day to day, but I know what I like, what suits me and that is mostly thanks to this blog. Several times I have got rid of items after seeing them on a photograph and deciding they didn’t do much for me after all. I have made a conscious effort in the last year or so to only buy items designed for tall ladies, or that had plenty of length in them if they weren’t specifically tall. Consequently I now have a closet full of clothes (too full the young man would say) that I know fit me and I enjoy wearing.
Two years ago I moved from one side of the city to the other to live with the young man, and left behind much of my life – my church, my youth work, my choir. The only people I knew in the area were related to the young man or had grown up with him. Two years on I have built a new life for myself – found a new church, new choir and drama group, and have made some good friends along the way. I think my confidence has increased with age and although I went away to university at 18, that was different in a way as everyone else there was new too. To start over in a new place on your own is very different and something I don’t think I would have been confident to do at twenty. I am glad that I have been able to make the move and am very happy living where I do now.
The birthday celebrations start this evening with tea at my parents’ house. The big day is not until Tuesday so I’m thinking I can easily stretch it out over a week, or even a week and a half if I really try.
This is such a great post, Fi! I've heard lots of people say their 30s are actually better than their 20s, because by the time you reach 30 you tend to be more secure (financially and otherwise), worry less about what other people think about you, and more likely to know what you want from life, etc. I think that's pretty true, and it sounds like it's good to be a good time in your life - have a great day!
ReplyDeleteHappy Bithday Shoegal
ReplyDeleteHappy Early Birthday! We do birthday weeks here, too.
ReplyDeleteMy dad always tells me the alternative to aging is worse. I remind myself of that as 40 gets closer and closer.
Sounds like you've built a great life. That is something to be proud of.
30 is not so scary. Neither is 40. Whatever age you are live it well and you seem to be doing just that.
ReplyDeleteyou go girl! turning 30 last year was a little traumatic for me. but the next day i saw that an "over 30 wart" had not grown in overnight and i realized that 30 was not a big deal and i'm still super wonderful me. have the super happiest birthday ever! :-)
ReplyDeleteFab post - you sound like you are in a really good place in life. I'm still in the ‘gah, 30 next year, that’s so depressing’stage lol
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous birthday week!
Great post Fi - I welled up a bit! Def agree with you about the confidence that grows from building something up in a new place, making new friends etc. You've done a brilliant job, and I can relate.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous birth-week and keep us posted on outfits! xx