Thirty in Thirty

Today is the Monday after a weekend full of birthday celebrations. This year was a milestone birthday for me; the big 3 oh. It does feel different to me than say my 26th, 27th, or 28th birthdays. Thirty feels like the end of a chapter and the start of a new one.

First my family took me to the Mandarin for dinner. The kids showered me with handmade cards, necklaces and drawings and Family Game Night for the xbox, and my husband gave me a card and a charm necklace I wanted. The next day the celebration continued with a game night party with extended family and friends. It was tons of fun.

My twenties included the accomplishments and milestones of having 2 beautiful children, starting my own business, getting married, graduating from college, and taking my family to Disney World (all in that order). Not bad for a 10 year chapter.

Now that a new chapter has begun I find myself with two main goals moving forward; getting healthy, and reaching my other entrepreneurial dream of starting a new business. I figure that within 10 years I should be able to accomplish that.

Since they say wisdom comes with age I thought I would list 30 things I've learned or come to realize over the last 30 years. (in no particular order).

TOP THIRTY IN THIRTY

1. Life doesn't always go as planned

2. It's important to surround yourself with positive people

3. Lifelong friends can pick back up right where they left off no matter how much time has passed

4. It's always easier to give up, but sticking it out is the only way to ever reach success

5. The difference between dating and marriage is in marriage you must reach a working solution.

6. Children grow up quickly, take lots of pictures

7. It's important to back up your computer files every once in a while

8. Debt is a part of life, you can't let fear of it stop you from living

9. The 'perfect' family you idolize thinks your family is perfect. Truth: no family is perfect or always happy and that's okay.

10. Vacations are important to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul.

11. Sharing a bloodline isn't what makes sisters close. Sharing your time and secrets makes sisters. (I love mine).

12. I have an addictive personality

13. Grandparents know a lot. It's important to have conversations with them about important issues and to do more listening than talking.

14. It doesn't take long before your kids know more than you do about certain things. Listen to them too.

15. Helping others when they need it most is the best feeling in the world

16. Putting time, thought and effort into a gift is what makes it memorable; not the price tag.

17. No matter how much you want to; it's always better not to burn any bridges with others, as you never know when you may need to cross their path again.

18. It's a small world

19. Fairness isn't sameness

20. You don't fully know someone until you live with them

21. 'Never' rarely ever means never.

22. Just because society accepts certain things doesn't mean you have to accept them too

23. People who would be afraid to take risks will try to discourage you from taking any yourself

24. People who love you will try to discourage you from making a big mistake

25. It's important to learn how to identify the difference between #23 and #24

26. Don't let a first impression carve your opinion of a person/company in stone; you could have caught them on a bad day.

27. You can tell who loves you most when you are at your worst

28. Most things shouldn't be taken at face value

29. One person can make a difference

30. You are never too old and it's never too late. Just do it!