8 Ways My 30’s Are Better Than My 20’s

My twenties were great… I graduated from college, started a career, moved out on my own (with a roommate of course– Hey Amy!!!) met and married the man of my dreams, moved to Maryland and started grad school. Whew my twenties were BUSY!!! Even with all of those things… My thirties have been A-MA-ZING!!!! If you’re not in your 30’s yet… Please know that you are in for a treat!!

I put together a list of 8 ways my 30’s are better than my 20’s. So here we go:

1. I’m more confident in who I am. My twenties were a time of me really discovering myself and finding my place in life and getting acclimated to all the changes I experienced. In my thirties I am finding that I am more confident in who I am as a person and more settled in life in general. I love the skin I’m in, love my funny quirks and everything in between. I am who God has called me to be and I make no apologies for that!!

2. I’m actually accomplishing my professional goals. My twenties were a time for me to focus on my career and marriage goals. My thirties were a time for me to see those goals actually be accomplished! In my twenties I dreamed about having a family and life with kids, in my thirties I’m actually a mommy now and am enjoying the family life. I not only have been able to grow professionally in my career, but I’m also able to accomplish other “professional goals” like getting this website/blog up and running!!

3. I don’t care anymore. I used to be a “people pleaser”. I always worried about what others thought about me. I used to do things and make decisions based on what others wanted me to do. This thinking and mentality kept me in bondage for so many years. Thankfully I was able to branch out on my own, make my own decisions and move up in life. I also stopped caring what people said about me. Things that people have said about me over the years have a way of coming back to me.  I know more than people think I do. Even though people have talked about me, I’m able to interact with them and have conversations with them as if they haven’t said a negative word about me.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m very careful what I share with them, but I don’t let their pettiness stop me from being kind and friendly. I try to maintain a classy attitude and rise above the pettiness. I have too much to do to let pettiness get to me. I have goals and dreams that they don’t and won’t understand. I can’t get stuck in what others think or say about me, especially when they don’t have all the facts and what they are saying is untrue. So yes, I don’t care anymore… and that’s a good thing.

4. I’ve built wonderful and positive relationships that last. It’s been great to be able to settle into my 30’s with a great community of friends who have now become family. I have some really solid friendships that I’ve been able to grow and build over the past few years. It’s so nice to be able to have some girlfriends that you can talk to and relate to on another level beyond small talk. Its great to have cheerleaders that support you, your goals, dreams, and pursuits. It’s such a blessing to have women that I can call friend but sister as well. I can’t forget to mention all the wonderful friends and sisters that the Lord has blessed me with back home. They have been with me since the beginning and are instrumental in helping me along the way.

I’m so blessed to have friendships where we can go a long amount of time not talking and pick up right where we left off when we do reconnect. Those types of relationships are PRICELESS and I love and cherish every one of them! I love all my friends near and far and am so blessed to have amazing women in my life. It’s a blessing to be able to call on the aunties to take Rissy for a few hours so that mommy can get caught up on life. I love that any time I need anything, I have friends and family who are available to help and vise versa. Now that I’m older and understand friendship a little more, these relationships mean sooo much to me!!!

5. I’m developing and growing in my new life roles. As women we have many roles in life throughout the years. We are daughters, sisters, auntys, mothers, grandmothers, professionals and wives, cheerleaders, COO’s of our homes, friends, etc. among many others. Women are constantly growing and adapting to the roles we are in. That’s the beauty of being a woman. We are able to be so many things to so many different people. (Side note: because of this, I’m learning that we also have to take the time to take care of ourselves… but that’s another blog for another day…) Now that I’m a mommy, I’m LOVING this new role!! When I was an Aunty, I enjoyed that role and was the best Aunty I could be. I’m still an Aunty but am also enjoying my role as a mommy. Becoming a mommy is the greatest gift I have ever been given. I’m learning to embrace and enjoy each role that I have walked in all while having an attitude of gratefulness.

6. I found my niche. I have finally discovered (and will continue) to discover what makes me tick! I know what I like and what I don’t like. I know the type of people I want to be around and those I do not. I have discovered my style… from my hair to my clothes. I know what I want and how to pursue it. I know that I love to be an encouragement to women, that I love to be able to help other women whether it is in word or deed. I’m so excited to have this blog/website to be able to do just that.

7. I enjoy and love who I am and who I’m becoming. I love the woman that I’ve become and am continuing to become. I love me. I love my own company and spending time with myself. I am sooo happy with who I am. I love the person my experiences has shaped me to be. I love that I can be silly and am the biggest kid you’ll ever meet, but can also be professional and get the job done when needed. I love that I’m friendly and that I try to make everyone I come in contact with feel like they matter, whether it’s the lady at the nail salon or the cashier at the grocery store. I love that I love to smile and that my smile makes others feel good. I love that I try to be a genuine person and that when I’m interacting with others, that I’m really listening to them and encouraging and helping any way that I can. I love the heart that God has given me for others and that He is giving me opportunities to be a blessing to others.

8. I’m branching out and trying new things. I am so excited to be able to branch out and try this blogging/website thing. I’ve tried my hand at blogging a few times, but it was something I did for fun. Now that I’m doing this website/blog, it is still fun, but it has more meaning for me. I see it as a way to share and encourage women on a larger scale. I love that I can speak into women personally/ one to one but am ecstatic about the opportunity to impact more women. I want others to be able to cultivate an attitude of gratefulness and be able to experience the joy that comes with it. I’m excited to be a part of and lead a community of grateful women who can then impact their world. I’m excited to have the opportunity to do this and do not take it lightly. So thank you for joining me on this journey and in this movement.

So dear friends… Do you agree? Disagree? Have any other ideas that I missed?? Please share!! I would love to hear your thoughts…

Gr8fully Yours,