A new age to love

It seems as if I have preparing for this moment for over a year. When I blew out the candles on my 29th birthday, I felt a sudden sense of urgency, as if all things were going to end once I could no longer claim to be in my beloved 20's. I lived the days of my 29th year with conviction, reminding myself, "you got to do it now while you are still young and in your 20's". But alas, the fateful day approached and just like any other day, the clock ticked on. But this was no ordinary stroke, with this one, I struck 30.

There are many birthdays in your life that pass by with just a mere blowing of candles or a few presents here and there. But then there are the birthdays which hold a special meaning worthy of a pause--when you turn 1 and are no longer an infant, when you turn 18 and can finally buy a lottery ticket, when you turn 21 and can legally have that chocolate martini, and of course when you turn 30 and are considered an adult.

When we were younger, we all had our conceptions of what being 30 meant and that perception changed each year as we neared that age. When I was in my 20's and in law school, I thought at 30, I would be married, have a great career and own my own home. I thought I would be hosting dinner parties with real china and attending galas and fetes. I thought I would be affording higher priced vacations and nights out on the town. I thought I would be, an adult.

Today as I sit here, I can't quite claim to have any of those things that I thought I would have but I can claim I have made progress. While I don't have a marriage, I'm in a loving relationship, while I don't have a great career, I have a good job that is teaching me more about myself and my needs, while I don't have a home, I am saving money towards the down payment of one and starting to look at housing options.

As a high achiever, I want to put placeholders next to years for when I accomplished something. As a liver of life, I know that not everything happens as you plan it and appreciation of the given moment provides unexpected opportunities for joy (my spontaneous trip to South Africa and my recent opportunity to be in DC for the inauguration of Barack Obama).

Thus I realize, it's not age that really matter rather it's the pursuit of living that does. As I slather some eye cream, (now it's all about prevention) I look forward to an exploration of my spirit. I have heard from so many women that being in your 30's is amazing-- that you are more confident of yourself, more assured of what you want, and are willing to compromise less on things that matter to you.

I am excited about this journey ahead of me, to seek the new opportunities that I know will come my way, and to embrace it all with excitement and adventure and gratitude. This year, I will celebrate 30-love.