I needed some time to fully process what took place last week. It was a sad and traumatic experience that I had MONTHS to prepare for. It rared it's ugly head exactly one week ago. Nope, not the Presidential debate. People....... I turned 30. (every person over 40 just laughed, I know)
I've written about this dreaded day's arrival before (see post here) - but now that it's here and I'm older and wiser (ba ha) I thought I'd share my thoughts in the form of a letter for anyone else with a milestone birthday approaching. Consider it my birthday gift to all my fellow earthlings on the brink of mental breakdowns as gray hairs consume your lovely locks and achy joints become more than just something said on commercials. As the oldest of most of my friends, I also feel that it's my duty to blaze the trail for you youngsters still 29. Enjoy friends, we'll get through this together ;)
Dear Aging Human,
This is weird, right? You're about to hit a milestone age. You remember your parents turning this age. You understand now why older folks stop celebrating/remembering birthdays - no one needs the reminder that you're aging, it's not as exciting as finally being 18 or 21. You're thinking more about your life up to this point with utterances of expletives or nostalgic sighs, and a few secret tears you dare only shed in an empty car or shower to drown out your wails. The gray hairs that people pay good money to cover are starting to be more noticeable and it's only a matter of time until you sneak a box of hair dye into your shopping cart - you can't hide anymore. You look at older people's skin and take out a second mortgage to buy preventative skin aging products to avoid that fate, but it's probably too late - the sun kissed, melanoma ridden summers you had as a teen have already decided that fate, but you'll proceed with your skin treatments to feel better about it. You're finding limitations to your body now - suddenly a jog around the block needs an extra support bra or knee brace, and will include a mental negotiation about if it will be worth the week of soreness or sprained muscle that will follow, to which you nix the workout and opt for a salad for dinner instead. Cholesterol and Sodium are things you think about now. You hear your favorite old bands referred to as 'classics' or 'throw backs.' You consciously don't have caffeine after 3 pm. You ask yourself if you've had a vegetable today. You ask your parents about their health more, because you care of course, and you're curious about what genetic blessings await you. Basically, you're faced with the harsh reality that aging is upon you. *insert meme or GIF of wailing celebrity on that one show that totally fits what you're doing on the inside*
But that's not all - other things are happening too! You reminisce about the past as if it were centuries ago, and you begin to remember people and memories you thought you had forgotten. Some good - like the friends that you wouldn't have survived high school without, the late-night Whataburger trips in college for study groups that really turned into night-long hang out sessions and inside jokes that still make you giggle, the first date you had with your now spouse, that shopping trip with your mom and sister when you found perfect wedding dress, the nightmare-ish first year of marriage memories that make you realize how far you really HAVE come, or the proud moments in you and your spouse's careers. Some bad - like the ex-boyfriend you never should have wasted your time on, the friendships that didn't survive the years and miles, the failures you faced, the bad haircut you got that one summer, or the loved ones you miss that are no longer here to see your life now.
But as you reminisce because of this emotional day approaching, my advice to you is this - think ahead too. Think ahead to that age you wouldn't IMAGINE thinking about now - one birthday-inspired mental breakdown at a time, right? But go there, think about the next milestone age... now ask yourself, how do you want to remember these years? What good times, what bad times survived, what successes, what moments of victory do you want to reflect on then? Tomorrow's memories are today's MOMENTS - and you have the chance to make them great. I'm certain that in a year, maybe ten I'll look back at this blog, the hilariously pathetic nights I spent crying about turning 30, and the production I made about turning 30 - and laugh.
So aging human, it's going to be okay. People are going to tell you that this was their 'favorite' age, some will laugh and call you a baby, others will say that it only gets worse so you better enjoy it now - but I hope you'll remember my words too - tomorrow's memories are today's MOMENTS - and you have the chance to make them great. So put the lid on your Bengay, fold up off your afghan, and do something today that your future self will be glad you did. Aging is inevitable, it's happening, and you're doing it - HOW you do it is up to you. So-in-so is yes, more successful than you, yes, that person is living their dream, and yeah - you might not be there yet. Yeah, there are things you thought you'd accomplished by now - and thinking about those things will make you question whether you should even try anymore. But take it from me, the Queen of Self-loathing based upon comparison, you might not be there today, but it's up to you if you get there someday. Fight the urge to quit since you're not there now and do something to get you there one day. Replace those thoughts of what you haven't done yet, with memories of the things you have. Someone is looking at your life wishing they were where you are.
Aging human - you've got this. Blow out the candles (as bright and plenty as they are now) then shut off the smoke detector (te he, that was mean) and smile. People will always want to celebrate you on this day - YOU - so let them. They think you're pretty great - and for good reason. Celebrate life and make this coming year more exciting than the last. You deserve it - and you won't regret it.
Sincerely,
Thirty, Not Flirty, & Crying
::BONUS TRACK::
To make 30 more bearable/something to look forward to - I gave myself a challenge to do 30 things I'd never done before! Here's a list of my 30 before 30 Challenge I started in December:
1. Tickets to Adele
2. Tried a macaroon
3. Booked a Celebrity Mascot for a work event
4. Tried Chicken & Waffles
5. Completed Wood Project using my own power tools
6. Visited the Dogwood Trails in East Texas
7. Shot a rifle and handgun
8. Picked my own berries
9. Made my own pottery from clay
10. Worked out on vacation!
11. Went to Top Golf
12. Completed 18 holes of golf... from golf cart ;)
13. Sat in the Splash Zone at Sea World
14. Petted a Sting Ray
15. Went down a water slide/ride
16. Went on a mini-roadtrip
17. Visited the Sam Houston Statue in Huntsville, TX
18. Visited the Chromosauruses in Ft. Worth, TX
19. Spent a day watching Netflix
20. Tried Yoga
21. Visited the Houston Children's Museum
22. Organized a concert!
23. Became a coffee drinker (iced coffee)
24. Received a teaching training certificate for ESL
25. Went camping with my husband
26. Baked a pie!
27. Tried caviar
28. Learned to make balloon animals
29. Tried archery (sorta)
30. Got tickets to see Rend Collective!
