Here's to Thirty!
Well you guys, I’m about to turn the big 3-0 in a couple days and it’s brought up a lot of reflection on where I’m at in life. I’m not shying away from it or feeling like I’m “old” or mourning my twenties. I honestly feel like I’m finally hitting an age that I feel like I’ve been for a while! Haha! 30 seems like the age I belong at so I’m really happy to have caught up with myself.
That being said, this world we live in right now makes it harder to be content with where we are at. Everyone’s social media highlight reels make us feel less-than, like we don’t measure up. I catch myself constantly finding out someone I follow on Instagram is only 23 and has 80k followers and is making money doing fun things and I’m just like “How is that possible?” and “What am I doing with my life?” and “All these people are so much better than me!” and I have to remind myself to chill. Seriously Jena, what does someone else’s following have to do with you? NOTHING. And so, I move on until the next time, which frankly comes sooner that I’d like to admit.
The comparison game is strong these days and so hard to avoid. We have social media in our faces all day long while we scroll on our phones and see the things people want us to. We all know that these posts are only the surface of someone’s life, but it’s still hard to convince ourselves that sometimes- when we see only pretty pictures and people making money doing what looks like nothing.
I don’t know about you, but some days I find myself looking at all these early 20’s people making tons of money for what looks like just living their life and I think to myself that I should be further in my own life than I am. That I should have accomplished more, done something big career-wise, my kid should be able to recite every president and know all the states and their capitals because I should be teaching her these things in my spare time. That last one is far-fetched, but you get what I’m saying! And instead here I am, letting my kid watch probably too much tv, trying to balance being a mom and a wife and have a normal 9-5 job and still find a little time for myself. It’s rough to be in this world guys! Life is crazy and busy and overwhelming and sometimes unfair. And I know we all feel like we just don’t measure up sometimes.
But let me tell you something, life is SO good if you just take a second to really look at it. Part of me feels like I should have accomplished some big thing by 30, but then I take a step back and realize I have. Growing up I don’t remember ever having some big desire to be a career woman. I wanted to be a nurse for a long time, but I changed my mind when I realized it just wasn’t something my heart was very into. Other than that, I never felt a big pull toward much- except being a wife and a mother. I’ve always wanted a family and a simple life, and you guys, that’s exactly what I have! I have a great husband and the most wonderful little girl that is everything I’ve ever dreamed she could be and more. We own a little house in a great city that we were able to buy when we were 23 because we worked hard. I don’t have a fancy job, but my job helps provide for my family and is flexible and I get to be home sometimes and take time off when I need to. I feel fulfilled still because I get to throw birthday parties for Piper and showers for my friends and decorate my house and make Halloween costumes and take people’s pictures and let my creative side go wild. I really am living the life I always wanted. Sure, there are things I’d change if I could and there’s always the desire to make more money or be home full time, but when I really stop to think about it, I have done so much in my 30 years and I’m really proud of myself and where my life is.
Can I encourage you to be content with where you are at, no matter where it is? Look around at your chaotic and messy life and find some beauty in it. Think about what you have accomplished, no matter how small you may think it is. Try not to focus so much on other people and what they are doing or how perfect they seem and instead think about how far you have come in your own life. This is something I’ve been working on and it is making a world of difference! Your life, your story- it’s uniquely yours and not worth comparing. So, cheers to my thirtieth year and all the things I HAVE done! I’m excited for what my future holds because the possibilities are endless. Life is really just getting started!
xoxo, Jena