The Best Part of Turning 30? Everything

Is there a 21-year-old in the world who isn’t terrified at the idea of turning 30? I know I thought 30 was “old” and no one could be happy about entering this decade of life. I’m proud to say I turned 30 earlier this year and there is no doubt that it’s my best year yet.

Mo’ Body, No Problem

My weight has fluctuated since I was 18 years old and I’ve never been super self conscious about it. Now, I’ve had two babies and sustained an ankle injury earlier this year that drastically lowered my activity level for more than eight weeks. My jeans are a little snug and my tops fit a bit differently, but I just don’t care. I made two babies, work full time and really like tacos and cookies. Of course I have a pudgy tummy. Don’t get me wrong, healthy eating and fitness are still important. That’s part of why this extra weight doesn’t bother me.

I Think I’m Actually an Adult Now

Okay, I definitely don’t have everything figured out, but I have way more figured out than I did five or even two years ago.

Around the time I was turning 30, I realized I’d gotten pretty good at keeping house, scheduling, meal planning and prepping. Mornings are typically relaxed and enjoyable family time. I stay on top of chores and put our family activities into the calendar on my phone as soon as they are scheduled. It’s taken years of practice and trial and error, but it is great to feel like I’m one step ahead of my life instead of always treading water.

What’s Imposter Syndrome?

I’m sure most people have experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their lives. It’s that feeling that you’re just playing a role that you’re totally not qualified for. Both at work and at home, I had severe imposter syndrome. I didn’t know what I was doing as a mom and didn’t know what I was doing at work. While neither of these were necessarily the case, I didn’t have a ton of self-confidence.

This year, these feelings have slowly melted away. I’m fortunate to have a team at work that gives me valuable feedback and support and has helped me produce some of my highest-quality professional work. I’ve been a mom for six years and feel like I’m finally getting a really firm grip on being the best mom I can be. The disappearance of that underlying imposter syndrome was like a weight lifting from my day-to-day life.

Turning 30: Coincidental or Not? 

Of course, all of these things I’ve outlined may have coincidentally happened at the same time I turned 30. But I certainly like attributing it to an age that had gotten a bad rap for years.