On Wednesday December 3 I celebrated my 29th birthday. I woke up happy for life, feeling blessed, grateful for health and proud of all I had accomplished this far. I jetted a plane to Bimini with my boyfriend for a few days to soak in a little island life and get away from the hustle and bustle of Nassau. This birthday was spent in quiet reflection, without much of the hooting and hollering that were landmarks of past birthday celebrations and…wishing I was actually turning 30. I know, I know, this sounds weird. Who wishes to be a year older, right? ME??!!

For me 30 is where it’s at and where life really begins. For me, turning 30 is when you become you. To me, this is the time when everything you’ve done in your life, good or bad, comes to fruition and seals the cap on who it is you’re meant to be. In my head, the years in your 20’s are used as your book of life, where you write, erase, skip pages, draw, doodle, erase again and figure out your story. You have 10 years to write your story, and although you might not have it right by 30, whatever you’ve written (the choices made, the decisions not made, the risks not taken, the regrets had) will be your truth. I’m not spreading doom and gloom for those who by this pivotal age aren’t really where they want to be. This post is not about materialism but more about heart, mindset and a sense of being. By age 30 your heart has probably already been broken and patched back together, you’ve probably experienced a ton of life experiences that knocked you on your ass, you’ve experienced happiness, sadness, accomplishments, life changes, births, deaths, uncertainty, pain, grief, jubilation, career changes…10 years is a long time so I’m certain your mind and heart have ran the gamut of much of what life has to offer. What I’m saying is whatever it is, by 30 it all comes to bear its fruit, good, bad, ugly or beautiful. To me at this age, everything you’ve done over the course of the last decade zeroes in on you and takes you back to the starting line. The age 30 tells you, “This is where you’re at, here’s what you’ve done so far. Now its’s time to start the next chapter. Not happy? then do more. Happy? Still do more, but just know that this is who you are.” Thirty says, “I’m here as your launching pad into finer adulthood and here begins the rest of your life. This is who you are, what you’ve become. Capitalize on it and improve it for your 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and beyond.” Thirty, the magical age to me, is where you continue writing in your book of life, but this time with a pen. There will be mistakes made, but they will be harder to erase this time around. I am excited to pull out my pen, to arrive at my new starting line. At 29, I have one more year before it all comes full circle and the who I am to be will be concrete. Besides, 29 is such a weird age to remember and say lol.