It's been nearly 3 months since my 30th b-day. Many of my peers have dreaded that milestone, feeling they were leaving behind their youth. Others embrace it and fly in. I'd like to say, I felt more of the latter. I've felt for many years, since I am often surrounded with older friends and family, to always be considered the "baby." After hearing that since I was 20, it gets a bit old. I'm sure I'll still be called that in certain circles, but I do feel like breaching the 30 years of life thing, that maybe I've gained a little more respect and consideration as an adult. But to mom, always a baby, right?
To be straight up, I was feeling downright pumped to leave my 20s behind and move onto 30. My 20s and prior were a lot of years of discovery and firsts, and feeling overwhelmed with being presented with bigger questions. Where are you going to college? What are you majoring? What's after college? What do you want to do? What do you do? Do you like it here? How's the love life? Then being witness to the slew of friends graduating, getting jobs, getting married, buying homes, traveling to awesome places, getting graduate degrees, having their second child, and meanwhile the questions continue...but of a differing degree --- and after a while if you're not submitting to this order of life college-job-spouse-house-pet-kids-master's-2nd kid it can often feel as thought you're behind the curve. Since moving out west and separating a bit from the peers from my pre-30 life, I've realized and accepted that each person has his or her own path. And, it can be just as wonderful and fulfilling without checking off all the above boxes at all, or in a different order. I've met many people without children, or who've never been married, who don't have master's degrees, or even bachelor's degrees, and it's comforting to see them happy and content and with smiles...NO BIG DEAL.
Seeking personal happiness becomes the goal. Find what I like and practice that as much as possible, and figure out a way to make it my career. Find someone to share my passion for life, interests with and whom I can learn and explore with - no matter how long it lasts. Accept that while my peers may have multiple children, purchase homes, and attain master's degrees, and say, that's great, feel no stress or envy. I'm taking my own path, while continuing to enjoy friendships, meet friend's children and being a part of their lives and families.
An even larger life event recently is having accepted a permanent full time position with the science center as their Education/Volunteer Coordinator. The decision came to me easily - since it's an opportunity to learn and grow at a place with a mission I believe in. I have a large task set ahead of me and I anticipate discomfort, stress and many challenges in the coming months, probably not till spring until I hit anything resembling a stride. But, I'm going to hang on and try to do it and some how, continue smiling and enjoying life. Onward and upward, cheers!
To be straight up, I was feeling downright pumped to leave my 20s behind and move onto 30. My 20s and prior were a lot of years of discovery and firsts, and feeling overwhelmed with being presented with bigger questions. Where are you going to college? What are you majoring? What's after college? What do you want to do? What do you do? Do you like it here? How's the love life? Then being witness to the slew of friends graduating, getting jobs, getting married, buying homes, traveling to awesome places, getting graduate degrees, having their second child, and meanwhile the questions continue...but of a differing degree --- and after a while if you're not submitting to this order of life college-job-spouse-house-pet-kids-master's-2nd kid it can often feel as thought you're behind the curve. Since moving out west and separating a bit from the peers from my pre-30 life, I've realized and accepted that each person has his or her own path. And, it can be just as wonderful and fulfilling without checking off all the above boxes at all, or in a different order. I've met many people without children, or who've never been married, who don't have master's degrees, or even bachelor's degrees, and it's comforting to see them happy and content and with smiles...NO BIG DEAL.
Seeking personal happiness becomes the goal. Find what I like and practice that as much as possible, and figure out a way to make it my career. Find someone to share my passion for life, interests with and whom I can learn and explore with - no matter how long it lasts. Accept that while my peers may have multiple children, purchase homes, and attain master's degrees, and say, that's great, feel no stress or envy. I'm taking my own path, while continuing to enjoy friendships, meet friend's children and being a part of their lives and families.
An even larger life event recently is having accepted a permanent full time position with the science center as their Education/Volunteer Coordinator. The decision came to me easily - since it's an opportunity to learn and grow at a place with a mission I believe in. I have a large task set ahead of me and I anticipate discomfort, stress and many challenges in the coming months, probably not till spring until I hit anything resembling a stride. But, I'm going to hang on and try to do it and some how, continue smiling and enjoying life. Onward and upward, cheers!
1 comment:
so glad you are feeling confident and content in your skin and where you are in life. i would want nothing else for you, claudie. lots of people get masters, get married, have kids, etc., because they are lacking that self-contentment and are seeking it. what i know is that it comes from INSIDE and you're blessed to have it, girl! xox
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