Well friends, today I am officially 30 years old. And I have to be honest, I’m not entirely sure how to feel about it yet. By this age I always saw myself in a different place, down a different path. But I suppose that’s the fun of life– you never really know where it’ll take you or where you’ll end up despite all the plans you make. So now, in my wise old age, I thought I’d share a few things I’ve learned along the way as well as my goals for the next year of my life. I also thought I’d share some behind the scenes snippets of how I got the photo above since it involved Ryan and I moving balloons through the NYC subway system to get to the perfect mural.
Reflections
I spent my 20’s taking chances, moving around, and really going full force into my career. I experienced highs and lows, love and loss, and I don’t regret one bit of it. Here’s a little of what I learned:
1. Family is key. Whether it’s your birth given family, or the family you’ve chosen, having people that love and support you makes all the difference in the world. Hold them close and let them know what they mean to you often. Seriously, go text your parents or BFF right now.
2. Don’t be afraid to fail. Everybody experiences failure and sometimes things don’t turn out according to plan. Whatever. It’s really not the end of the world. Don’t let the hypothetical scare you away from your dreams.
3. Be kind. Life is hard enough, there’s no reason to tear one another down. A fun tip– it helps to imagine that everyone who is a jerk in traffic just realllllllyyyy has to go to the bathroom.
4. Be cautious of who you give your time to. Your time is the most value thing in the world and shouldn’t be given just because it’s convenient. If you’re finding that the people in your life are negative or not supporting you, consider a change. It’s amazing what a difference positivity and encouragement makes.
5. Don’t be afraid to be silly. Make an ass out of yourself every now and then. Dance, sing, karaoke, have fun. Strangers care about you less than you think.
6. See the world. You’ll learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible when traveling. Grab a friend or go alone. Just make sure you get out there and experience what the world has to offer.
7. It’s okay to say no. You don’t have to please everyone all of the time. This one was hard for me to get used to, but saying no every now and then is healthy. Be a great friend/family member/co-worker, but also be kind to yourself.
8. Make time for yourself. Making time for yourself alone is important, especially when in a relationship. Learn who you are, what you like, and don’t lose sight of that.
9. Vote. Apathy is not an option.
10. You do you. Find your own personal style and own it. Life is a lot more fun when you surround yourself with items you actually love verses what you’re told is trendy.
Goals
Every year on my birthday I like to take the time to make goals for the next year of my life. It’s kinda like making New Year’s resolutions early, but easier to stick to because it’s not mixed in with the holidays.
1. Eat more broccoli. What a bummer of a goal. But it’s really time for me to start being more mindful of my health. Plus eating some veggies every now and then really isn’t so bad when you think of all the benefits.
2. Start saving. For the past few years I’ve essentially put every dime I’ve made back into my business. It’s left me without any real personal security for the future and that’s getting a bit scary. Eventually I’ll want a home and a family and that shit is expensive.
3. Get a beauty routine. Guys if you saw my makeup bag, aka a ziplock baggie, you’d be embarrassed. I’d like to develop a beauty routine that not only nurtures my skin, but also makes me feel confident. Plus I think it would make for a pretty fun blog series!
4. Go to the dentist and doctor regularly. Again, another bummer, but something that long term really pays off.
5. Plan long term career goals. I’ve got a BIG announcement coming next week, and I want to take this next year to plan how it’ll fit into my long term goals. I’ll be sharing an update on this in January. I’m totally playing this cool right now but inside I’m jumping up and down!
6. Clean out the clutter. I’m ready to go through my stuff and get rid of the random clutter I’ve collected over the years. I think I might also go through a social media detox and reduce my feeds to what inspires me. Well that and dog Instagram accounts (which okay, is still pretty damn inspiring).
7. Invest in quality when it comes to clothing, food, and things for my home. Quality > quantity.
8. Send more cards.
9. See family more. Living away from my family means I may only see them once or twice a year, which just isn’t enough.
10. Make more money. I know ultimately it’s not what matters most in life, and that’s a bold statement to make, but it’s something that I’d like to do for this next stage in my life. A lot of my stress in my 20’s came from money issues (getting paid on time, student loans, etc), and if I could lessen that stress, why wouldn’t I? Plus there’s something empowering about being a woman who unapologetically owns her own financial success.
So that’s it for now! I’m off to eat a ridiculous amount of cake and have a glass of champagne or two to celebrate. If you have any advice or additional wisdom to share, please do. I can use all the help I can get for this next chapter!
xo
Rachel