Wednesday, March 27, 2013

turning 30

The final year of this decade started with a few really rough months, but it's ended well. Overall this has been a pretty amazing decade.

I completed my undergraduate and graduate degrees, got married, lived in four states, taught special education for four years, started a freelance writing career, bought and sold a condo, bought a house, and adopted three cats.

There have been a lot of hard times along the way. I am really grateful that I am done with having a long distance relationship, that Jake is done with med school and intern year, and that we live in a place that feels like home again where we have a lot of family and friends. There are plenty of things that still aren't easy, but I'm happier and less stressed than I've been in quite a long time.

When I turned 20, I didn't know what I thought about much of anything. I certainly don't have everything figured out, but I have a lot of confidence about my beliefs and opinions now.

I have a lot more confidence about myself in general, too.

I have furthered my writing, jewelry making, and photography skills more than I ever thought possible. I'm sure that if you showed my 20 year old self the pieces that I've produced during the past couple years, I would not have believed that I did any of that work.

Whether or not I ever go back to teaching, I am not sorry that I got the degrees that I did. My academic career and experience teaching played a huge role in shaping who I am today. A large part of why I feel confident putting myself out there as a professional writer and artist is because of that background and expertise.

A couple months ago, I put together a five year plan of sorts with goals for each year. I highly recommend this exercise to anyone. During the past couple years, I've avoided this topic with many people and made a lot of excuses about why I haven't done something like that because things in my life haven't always gone the way I planned. It's nice to be at a point in my life where I can start moving past some of that and finding a balance between living for today and making my own long-term goals a priority.

Turning 30 feels a lot better than turning 20. I'm excited about what this next decade in my life holds.

28 comments:

  1. Rose what a great post! so thoughtful and with purpose of what comes next ... I look forward to seeing you continue to grow as an artist, writer and photographer! Happy Birthday

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  2. Happy Birthday Rose!!!
    I agree, I feel good about getting ready to turn 30. I look forward to what my 30s have to bring and I feel in a much better place than I did in my 20s.
    Great post, I really enjoyed reading this :)

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  3. ♪♪ Happy Birthday to you, ♪♪
    ♪♪ Happy Birthday to you, ♪♪
    ♪♪ Happy Birthday Dear Rose ♪♪
    ♪♪ Happy Birthday to youuu. ♪♪

    You have had a hectic and busy 10 years and that is what being young is about. Growth and change - more to come of course but you've got a solid base for going forward, and upward!

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  4. Happy Birthday, Rose! Your post is thoughtful and engaging. You are further ahead in your development than I and many of my contemporaries were at your age. May each subsequent decade be even better than the one that preceded it.

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  5. Happy Birthday! I think most people spend a lot of time in their 20s trying to find a place to fit and figure things out. Of course, there are trials at any age, but it's nice to feel confidant that you can handle whatever life throws your way. :)

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  6. You've done well, Rose -- it's all a learning process. Happy Birthday!

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  7. I can't remember much of my 20's - ha ha :) Anyway, growing is a part of life that not everyone does well, but you have! Keep it up! Love this post, Love ya! Happy Birthday!

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  8. Beautiful post, Rose! You've accomplished so much already!
    Happy, happy Birthday :)

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  9. Happy birthday, congrats on 30. I love the photojournal that is this post. You're simply amazing and inspiring to me. Sometimes we have no idea how we help others along, but your amazing writing and photography have inspired me along the way. I'm so glad we met through HubPages and later on with blogging. You're amazingly amazing and I'm honored to know you. :)

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  10. Yay!! Happy Birthday!

    I look forward to turning 30, 2 years from now. I do hope that I accomplish some of my goals by then. I think I can! I definitely think 20 year old me couldn't have predicted my life at 28! I feel I have a better grasp on reality than I did when I was 20. It's nice too because now when things happen I don't feel so 'shocked'. It also makes it easier to work on my goals.

    Hope you have a wonderful day!

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  11. Happy birthday, Rose - you are far wiser at 30 than my human was! I am sure the next decade holds great things for you!

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  12. You certainly have come a long way since 20! You've accomplished so much and it sounds as if you are in a very good place right now.

    Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day. Thirty is a special birthday!

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  13. Happy Birthday Rose! You are looking and sounding so strong! Bravo!

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  14. Happy Birthday Rose! I wish you all the best as you turn 30! I think 30 is a great year because as you said the confidence is so much greater and you start to truly know who you are and what you want. It's an empowering feeling! So many wonderful things happened for you and Jake in the last decade and I hope for even more wonderful things to happen in the next one! Enjoy your birthday!

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  15. Such a great reflection on a busy and experience filled decade. 30 is a great age and I am excited to see what is next in your life. Best wishes.

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  16. Happy belated birthday!!

    It sounds like your 20s were very full. I have another 2.5 years to go before reaching your mile stone, but I'm already thinking about it and what I've done with the past decade. It sounds like you've accomplished quite a lot! Best of luck during the next decade =)

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  17. I really enjoyed this post.. it's nice to get to know you on a bit more personal level. Isn't it funny how much can happen over a 10 year period? Sounds to me like you are content with where you are and have learned a whole lot along the way. I admire how you are able to keep organized and get things done. Best of luck to you this next 10 years!! You don't need luck though.. you are going to be just fine :)

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  18. Happy Birthday! Praying the next decade is spectacular for you!

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  19. Happy birthday! It's always good to reflect on how far we come in life, no matter if it's over all, career wise, relationship wise, etc. It's nice to sit and appreciate how much we've grown :)

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  20. such a nice composition of thoughts and photos. You're beautiful to look at and it looks like your career, whatever you choose, will be fulfilling. I know you and Jake have been through some hard times, but it can only get better from here! Happy Birthday! {:-Deb

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  21. What a wonderful post, Rose! Happy birthday. :-)

    Jamie

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  22. Happy Birthday, Rose! This was such a wise post, and even though I still have 2.5 years to go before I hit 30, a lot of what you said already rings true with me. My 20-year-old self would not have believed I'd turn out to be a jewelry designer back in college for a second time. I don't regret my first degree either, because without it I wouldn't have met my husband or a lot of my friends, but I do feel like I'm heading down the right professional path now. I hope your 30s are everything you hope and more! :-)

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  23. This is a wonderfully thoughtful post. Ten years from now it will be fun to re-read it and see what the changes and similarities are. I really think things get better as you get older and gather experiences. Yesterday's experiences lead to tomorrow's opportunities!

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  24. I hope you had an amazing birthday Rose! Turning 30 was a long time ago for me, and I remember it being a turning point in my life. Sounds like you are in a good place in your life and ready to take on the world. Enjoy!
    Valerie
    Everyday Inspired

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  25. This is a beautiful story of your past 10 years, and of reflecting over it. I enjoyed learning more about you, and the photos really add to it. On HubPages, you are wildly talented, and I look forward to keeping up with your blog, and checking out your Etsy store.

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  26. Lovely post! And wonderful photos! I hope 30 has been all you expected and hoped and more! Visiting via Throwback Thursday.

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  27. I hope that 30 is everything you hope for and more. You told a great story and having a plan is awesome. It's always fun to look back on to see what we achieved.

    Thanks for linking up at Throwback Thursday!!

    xoxo
    Denyse

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