30 Things I’ve Learned In (Almost) 30 Years

I turn 30 in a couple of months and it’s pretty weird to be approaching that number. Even though I have school-age children and have been married a decade, I still look around for an adultier adult in most situations until I realize I am, in fact, The Adult. 

I’m not scared of turning 30; it’ll just be another day. Most movies and TV shows make turning 30 out to be this big, negative thing, but I can honestly say I am excited to enter a new decade! I feel more grounded in who I am and what I want out of life now than I did at 20, that’s for sure.

If you sit down and think back on how transformative your 20s were, we will all recognize different strengths and weaknesses in ourselves and different lessons learned. When I started reflecting on my 20s, I came up with quite a few, so I thought I’d share them.  

30 things I’ve learned in (almost) 30 years:

1. When given the option, always take the nap.
2. Befriend people different from you. They will teach you so much about the world. 
3. Going from 1-2 kids is way easier than 0-1. (Although this is a matter of opinion and results may vary.)
4. Some problems are unfixable. That doesn’t make them suck any less, though. 
5. Whatever thing you were really into when you were a middle schooler is worth finding joy in again as an adult. It’s healing!
6. Watching your kids get older is one of life’s greatest joys. 
7. You can’t plan everything. If you try, you’ll only create anxiety. (Sorry, Type As.) 
8. It’s ok to ask for help.  
9. Sometimes holding onto the grudge is what’s best. 
10. I’ll never live long enough to have all the dogs I want to have. 
11. Don’t build a house during a pandemic. (Let’s hope this one doesn’t happen again.)
12. Having good girlfriends matters just as much as who you marry. 
13. Do research before you bring a dog home. Some of them are just not good family dogs and that’s going to be problematic eventually. It will break your heart. 
14. It’s ok to change your dreams. No one knows what they want to do with their life at 18. 
15. Therapy is good. Everyone needs therapy. (Yep. Everybody.)
16. People change. Some grow and some don’t. You can’t judge someone based on who they were when you knew them. 
17. Things get way easier when your kids can wipe their own butts and carry their own stuff around. 
18. If you’re in a bad mood and can’t figure out why, you need to eat something. 
19. Perspective changes everything. 
20. People who call you on your crap are keepers.
21. You have to have a sense of humor to survive. Laugh a lot!  
22. Postpartum you is not who you really are. You’ll feel like yourself again eventually. 
23. Rest is just as important as productivity. 
24. You have to grow older but you don’t necessarily have to grow up. (Well, you do a little, but not all the way.)
25. Make time for family. You are replaceable everywhere but at home. 
26. There are so many people and places that will take up space in your heart that you haven’t even met yet. 
27. Marry someone who shows up for you. It makes all the hard stuff hurt less and all the good stuff even better. 
28. Sometimes the people you expect to show up for you just don’t. You’ll be okay. 
29. Your kids will bring out the absolute best and worst in you. 
30. Don’t be afraid to move. Be anonymous in a new city. Know no one. Build a life from scratch. It’ll teach you so much.

And one more for the road? 

31. No one is figuring everything out. We all just give up on most things because we don’t have enough energy. You’ll be okay. 

My 20s taught me so much. I genuinely can’t wait for my 30s!