Hello, hello! I hope you guys are in the mood for some random thoughts and things this afternoon, because that is exactly what this post entails.
Okay. So. Let’s talk.
Today begins the official 30 Day Countdown until my 30th birthday. I know. I can’t believe it either. I made a pledge to stop having birthdays after my 25th, but you can only have 20-something faux birthday celebrations so many years in a row. I’m finding that out the hard way.
Somewhere in between getting married in Orlando and residing in the polar vortex of Metro Detroit, here we are.
Photo by Elegant Imagery
Thirty. 3-0. Considering I had somewhat of a quarter-life crisis while celebrating my 25th birthday (notice that trip to St. Augustine, Florida was never shared on the blog… ha!), I would say that I am handling the transition into a new decade pretty well.
I would be lying if I said that actually typing out the words I’m turning thirty didn’t freak me out just a little, but for the most part, I have accepted my jump into a new chapter of life with open arms.
Today I thought it would be fun to share a collection of thoughts going through my head that surrounds the idea of turning thirty. Just for fun, I went with 30 of them.
I hope you enjoy reading my rambles as much as they therapeutically help me embrace the concept. Here we go!
Thirty Thoughts on Turning 30
1. I’m so going to be okay about this.
2. Well, my husband is 41… so really, I don’t feel like turning 30 is all that big of a deal.
3. But it is. It’s a huge deal. We’re talking about moving forward into a new decade!
(Can we just move backwards into the 80s instead?)
4. And, speaking of my husband, our average age is 35… so technically, 30 should feel like a breeze. Technically.
5. My 25-year-old self can’t believe we still haven’t started a family.
6. Or purchased a home.
7. My 29-year-old self still longs for spontaneity and unforeseen travel adventures.
8. Some days I feel ready to expand my career and go for more in the fitness industry.
9. Some days I feel ready to settle down, and am completely content working part-time as a personal trainer.
10. I figured I would have figured most of this out by now.
11. Nothing ever really happens how you predict it to. Go figure.
12. I would have never guessed that I would be celebrating my 30th birthday in a new state of residence, Michigan, without my childhood friends and family close by.
13. I also never expected to find another group of close friends to comfort me being so far away!
14. I found my first grey hair a couple of years ago. Since then, I have found several. I’ve been trying to go as natural as possible and let my “real” hair color finally get a chance to surface… but if these greys keep popping up, that might have to change.
15. I want babies.
16. My husband still acts like a baby at times, and I have three fur children that keep me plenty busy. Does that count? I’m pretty confident in saying it does.
17. If you would have asked me what my life at thirty would look like five years ago, oh my goodness… it would be so different.
18. But, I’m perfectly okay with where I’m at. It’s funny to see how life unfolds.
19. No matter how many birthdays I have, I will always be a fan of 80s, 90s, and early 2000s pop and boy band music. If you’ve seen my Spotify playlists, then you already know this.
20. The older I get, the more food I like. Bring on the spicy food, sushi, and weird vegetables!
21. The older I get, the harder it is for me to recover from a late night out. A girls night in with movies, popcorn, and wine will always trump going out in a tight dress and heels to “take on the city”. Just saying.
22. Places really do seem “too loud” sometimes. I never thought I would see the day!
23. I am so grateful for my health and for the ability to be able to train and race as I please.
24. I want to check more off of my Fitness Bucket List in the next couple of years!
25. I still don’t think I will ever drive a mini-van. They look great on some, and if you drive one, I’m not knocking it! I personally don’t think I can ever drive or park something that massive. I’m doing everyone a favor here.
26. I’m determined to continue to grow my hair out. I’m crossing my fingers it finally gets the length I have been hoping for since college!
27. I hope you all don’t think I’m a weirdo for dedicating an entire post to my thoughts on turning thirty.
28. I have a feeling at least some of you are intrigued, and feel the same way as me about a big birthday coming up for you!
29. I will never grow out of my obsession with Friends. I just won’t.
30. I often wonder what my life will look like five years from now. Any predictions?
And there you have it. Me, not freaking out, about to turn thirty… or at least pretending to!
So tell me…
Questions of the Afternoon
• How did you handle your last milestone birthday?
• Do you have any funny stories about turning 30 in particular?
![[in our elementary school era] 🚌😭
Skyler did great walking into KINDERGARTEN with a big smile on his face this morning. I, however, was a bit of a mess on our walk home. 🥹
It’s wild how fast these 5 years with him have gone … 7 since we moved to NYC and into our apartment, dreaming of the day our kids would someday go to the *awesome* school right down our block. 🏫
That day is today, and I still don’t believe it — feeling allll of the emotions and thanking God for placing us here and for being able to trust His timing through the journey. 🫶🏼 #hbshinnyc
SO proud of you, SK - you are going to rock your first year at your “big boy school” - WE LOVE YOU !! 🩵👑](https://lifeinleggings.com/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)
My favorite blog post to date Heather.. I totally agree with you that turning 3-0 is a big deal.. It was for me lol, I’m now 33 and life couldn’t be better. Thanks for sharing!
Ha, that’s great to hear, Forrest! Thank you so much for reading my random rambles! 😉 I’m actually really looking forward to my thirties. No matter what I write! 😉
Happy early Birthday Heather! I’m 44, so I think 30 is so young. 🙂 That said, if I could offer any advice, since you know you want children, I would not put off trying any longer. I speak from personal experience. My husband and I always wanted several children, but I put it off several years because of my career. We were blessed with two children. But I was never able to get pregnant again after my early 30s. I hesitated to write this because I certainly don’t want to scare you, and I know everyone is different. But if I had it to do over again, I would have been open to having children earlier.
Oh, I totally understand. Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I love that you have two children. <3 Let's just say we're heading in that direction! 😉
Oh gosh, I had such anxiety being 29 because of the anticipation of being 30. The actual birthday was a piece of cake. Love some of these random thoughts!
That’s great to hear… thanks, Lauren!
Oh the twists and turns of life. As you know, you and I share similar stories. But what I can tell you, is we’re paving our own paths, even if we didn’t expect to be where we are. 30 is not so bad, in fact, it feels good! And I agree with you on eating more foods, needing more time to recover from going out and of course, and being grateful for my health. Cheers to your last 30 days under 30! 🙂
Thanks Ashley! 30 sure does look great on you! 🙂
30 isn’t so bad but I know how you feel. If it were up to my younger self I would have been married with babies a few years ago! But we can’t control everything. Everything happens for a reason and it’ll all work out 🙂
Exactly. We can “plan” our lives as much as we want, but they don’t always follow suit. I truly believe everything does happen for a reason too!
I am younger than you so I am not sure how welcome my perspective is 😉 But I will turn 26 this September and someone said to me recently “how does it feel to be entering your LATE TWENTIES” and it really freaked me out! I look around and feel like I am so “behind” some of my friends in terms of what I thought I would have done by now 🙁 But then I see all you have accomplished between being my age (25) and your upcoming birthday and it is inspiring for me! I still have a lot of time to do all the things I wanted to do and I will do them at my own pace and not compare myself to others.
It’s hard not to compare yourself to others your age, especially those close to you like your friends from high school or co-workers who are getting married, having babies, buying houses, etc. You just have to do the best you can do for you! Success comes in all different forms, and whether I expected it or not, my happiness has come out of my marriage, training, traveling, and this blog! You’re still young, kid. Don’t stress yourself out about a number. 😉
Also, thank you so much for reading! <3
I absolutely love this Heather! I’m 27 (28 in July) so I still have a few years before I hit 30, but I’ve experienced many of these things too. It’s crazy how life turns out differently than you think it would. I always swore I’d be married with kids at 25 haha, but instead I’m happily living with my boyfriend of a little over 2 years with our fur baby Oscar and contemplating a career change. I truly believe things work out the way they are meant to though. Happy almost 30! Enjoy!
Life definitely throws us curveballs! You just have to learn to roll with it and take each year as it comes. I always joke with my girlfriends who have specific age deadlines for their futures. I love hearing their goals, but it really is out of your control when you think about it!
For me the prospect of turning 30 was much worst than actually turning 30. And many of my best moments have happened since turning 30 – met my husband, got married, love my job, many great vacations, and I’m sure that the best is yet to come 🙂
I’ve heard that a few times. I guess the worst is almost over then! 😉 Oh, I know there are many good times to be had. Congrats on all of your successes! I’m excited to see where the next decade takes me!
For me 25 was hard and 29 was the worst! I spent the whole year, an I mean the WHOLE worrying about turning 30. It was my scary age after all. You know the age when you are young that you think you will be “officially old” when you have that birthday. Well, I woke up the morning of dirty thirty, did my yearly inspection in the mirror. I looked the same, felt the same…dirty thirty can kiss it! I was the same as the day before. Plus, at 33 I still get carded. But maybe they just want a bigger tip. 😉 As of now, age no longer bothers me. Sometimes I get a queasy feeling when I register for a race and realize I am no longer in the 25 to 30 category. But eh, what are you gonna do. So happy birthday to ya. Enjoy all of your adventures because there are many more to be had. Even after 30.
I think that’s what freaks me out the most… there are certain campaigns or races I apply for and I’ve been in the 25-29 box for so long. Moving up to the next one just seems so weird! I’ll get used to it. Eventually! 😉
I giggled about splitting the age gap with your hubby! Mine is 7 years older than me and we totally joke about the middle being our true age! I turn 30 in a little under a year and the idea of being 30 just feels weird! Happy early birthday!
It’s funny to think about. I guess we’ll be going through the big birthday together. Enjoy your average age of 32/33! 😉
I absolutely loveddddddd this!!! Thank you for sharing:)) let the count down begin! You are going to be the same amazing you at 30 that you always have been!
I just turned 30 over a month ago and I was actually excited about it. Everyone I know says your 30s are awesome because you just become so much more confident and comfortable in your own skin!
I love this 🙂 Happy early birthday!
Loved this post. I like your rambling posts the best. Age is just a number. You’re fit and healthy and beautiful and that’s all that matters. There’s seasons in everyone’s life and you’re just moving into the next one. Who knows, maybe it’ll be even better than the last one?
I feel your confusion over turning 30 – I am going to be 30 in July and it surprises me somewhat on how calm I am about it! It almost seems ‘right’ that I will soon be in my 30’s – your twenties are such a funny decade I feel I changed so much in 10 years!
Where I am now and where I thought I would be at this age are two different things, but where I thought I would be should actually read ‘where I thought I SHOULD be’ – my husband and I are now focused on what we want rather than what society says we should be doing and are so so happy! follow your heart not your age 🙂
I just turned 30 myself and so far, I have loved it. But I knew I would and wrote up this post on my birthday >> http://emilysfullplate.com/2014/10/20/30-reasons-im-excited-to-be-30/ Yay for being 30!
I love this list! I will forever be obessed with Friends, too! Oh, and Full House! I’ve recently started watching it again on Nick at Night and I remember why I loved it so much growing up. I also understand the age difference thing between you and your husband. My boyfriend is 5 years older than me and I am so excited that I’ll forever be able to feel young just knowing that. I also love giving him crap for it 😉
I had a terrible quarter life crisis so my 30 birthday kinda scares the crap outta me. It’s funny how you think your life will go one way and it goes the complete opposite. I think at 30 I will be nowhere near where I planned.
But I think you are doing great for 30 and you should celebrate it! P.S. your hair looks way better your natural colour 🙂
This is a great post Heather. I’ll be turning 30 in July so I don’t know how it feels yet. However I do know the anticipation of turning 30 and I’m pretty excited about it. I’ve already had all my kids-2 girls, and have been married for 5 years now so that is no worry for me. I feel that I have putting my career on the front burner because as far as that goes I feel like I am not where I envisioned I would be at 30. Cheers to you turning 30!!
Very timely post! I turn 30 in June and I’ve been dreading it for the past couple of years. I had to laugh especially at the point you had about how your 25 year old self is wondering why you haven’t started a family! I am the same way. At 21, I thought I’d be married by 25, have two years to just be married/no kids, then have two kids two years apart and be pretty much wrapped up around 30. HAHAHA! I just got married this past October and still am no where close to wanting to have babies. I want at least two years to ‘play’ with my husband and not be tied down by children (sounds like a horrible way to say it…I don’t mean having kids is a bad thing! just a wholeeee new world).
I think the whole point is I can control or predict my life and I should quit trying 🙂 Even though things are turning out so differently than I thought I can’t complain! I will say that I sure do hope I finally get comfortable in my own skin this next decade. The 20s have been such a battle with food/exercise/balance/loving myself and it’s been actually HARDER this past year because suddenly my body really is changing. Hi cellulite that was never there and I swear my weight hasn’t changed but it’s sticking to different places??! Oh 21 year old body, I miss you LOL
30 was no big deal and 40 was fun…but now the thought of turning 50 in a few short years sounds really old. I vowed to never drive a mini van either! You are going to rock 30…with every year I feel like I have become stronger and more a part of myself if that makes any sense at all.
Happy 30 days to 30! That is a big birthday and I think this post was a lot of fun! I turn 25 this year and it feels like a huge milestone to me. Josh is 6 years older than me and we constantly talk about when we’ll be ready to have kids and buy a house. We’re not sure when but we know it’s not now! haha I’m thinking around 30 will be a good time but who knows until that time actually comes!
love this post girl! thanks for it. this February, I turned 25.. and for some reason, i had anxiety over it. I guess I thought i would be in a different spot, and thought i would be more established and a different job.. but hey its okay….. life is all about the beautiful adventure!!
Oh girl, this was a great post. My hardest Bday was 31. 30 is a huge deal, I can’t believe I am 31, but at least 30 is a milestone and everyone wants a hand in making it great. At 31, your just old! haha! Sorry to not give you something to look forward, but I hope your 30th and 31st Bday is the most fantastic! I have so many questions about my life and can’t believe I am 31 and things are the way that they are, but I am looking it as an adventure!
I think its okay to be a bit worried, but I love that you’re embracing it and understanding that life doesn’t ever go the way we predict. I FEEL like I’m 30, but I’m only 22. If it makes you feel any better, I bought a house when I was twenty, with my husband whom I married at 18, and its really not all its cracked up to be. Ha.
Leading up to my 30th Birthday this year I was having a really hard time with it! To make the transition a little easier, I decided to plan a dream Birthday trip with my husband to Tahiti! It helped to make me excited about my Birthday instead of dreading it. It worked!! I agree with so many of your 30 thoughts on turning 30! We should be friends! 🙂
I have been 30 for about 6 months now and I may dare to say that it has been my best year yet!
I’m 33 and 30 didn’t freak me out at all. It probably helped that my husband and I don’t want to have children so I didn’t feel that biological clock ticking. I’m dreading 40, though. Not necessarily because I’m getting older, but more so the people (and pets!) I love getting older. My parents are already in their 60’s and I know when I’m 40 it’s just getting closer to the time I will have to say goodbye.
Oh, and I gave up going natural on the hair front when I was 31. WAY too many gray hairs!
Not 30 yet, but HOLY MOLY but 19 year old self would think that’s SUPER OLD but my 27 year old self thinks its still pretty young – ha haah!
My 30s were the best and most amazing years! Birthdays don’t freak me out 🙂
My daughter is 26 and has been married 4 years to someone 19 years older. They have been trying for 2 years now and have been termed unexplained infertility. After many months of painful injections and medications and procedures and 1 IUI, 2 IVF and 2 FET’s (sorry for the technical terms), the last FET(frozen embryo transplant) was a success. I hope that when you do decide that it works quickly for you.
I’m turning 30 in June, and it has been looming over me! Glad to know I’m not the only one who feels this way! My life doesn’t look at all like I thought it would – but I am taking steps to follow my passions and make this year the best yet! I know it’s mainly mental – nothing’s really going to change when I wake up as a thirty-year-old (that just sounds weird as I type it!) – but I won’t be in my twenties anymore! I’m just not ready…
I am completely guilty of being obsessed with Friends too! I just can’t get enough of it, even after watching the entire series on Netflix