30.
It seems like such a milestone and I'm not really sure why. I thought it would really bother me, I mean, 25 about put my over the edge. But I feel good about 30. At 25 I was upset because I didn't know what direction my life was going. I just wasn't content with where I was. I wasn't college age anymore and it was no longer appropriate to be a drunken fool and irresponsible all the time. But we were still in an apartment, we didn't know if we were going to try to have a baby or not. I wasn't young anymore, but I wasn't a "grown up" either. But now, at this point of my life, at almost 30, I am comfortable. I am a grown up now and I'm good with that.
I saw one of those e cards not long ago that really made me laugh at just how true it was:
You really are as young as you feel - until you spend time with people who are younger!
In honor of being on the cusp of 30, 5 Things Friday - 5 Lessons Learned From My First 30 Years:
1. Cherish the relationships that are positive and get rid of the ones that aren't. This goes for friendships, relationships, family... anybody in your life. If you aren't benefiting in some way from the relationship - let it go. I see no point in having people around just because they have always been around if they are having a negative input on your life. Life is short, don't waste the precious time on drama.
2. Learn to grocery shop and to cook. I wish I had paid attention to my mom when she was cooking all those years I lived at home. And I wish I had paid more attention when I would go to the grocery store with her! It was tough trying to figure this all out on my own, but you can't eat out every meal forever. I definitely learned that the hard way by gaining way too much weight and wasting way too much money. Sometimes I still struggle finding things at the store and will have to go up and down every single aisle before I can find the damn sloppy joe mix....
3. Change is good - don't panic. This was a big lesson learned for me. Ask my mom. I seriously cried every single day of my senior year because I was so scared and nervous about such a big change in my life. Ask Gary about my move to Morgantown, I struggled with that big change too. Finally I am starting to accept changes as a positive. Life cannot stay the same forever and why would we want it to really? Things are exciting when you can switch them up and make them new. I am so glad to have finally learned that. I am sure the next 30 years will be better with that knowledge and true understanding.
4. I would rather spend money doing something I enjoy than having more stuff. I love doing things. Whether it be going to a concert or out to dinner with people I love. I cherish the memories of the events so much more than buying something that I will end up throwing away in a year anyways...
5. Last but not least - Don't spend money you don't have. I know I keep talking about it, but Gary and I are working SO HARD at paying off our credit card and once its paid off, we are going to start only buying things if we have saved up the money to do so. I know there are emergencies and sometimes we will have no other choice but to charge something. But we are not ever going to get in so over our heads ever again. Never ever ever.
