Let the Thirties Begin

I've turned thirty. Anyone up with pop culture knows that 40 is the new 20, so thirty must the new "somewhere-between-fifteen-and-twenty".  However, that "youthy" bit does not mean, go wild, party, craziness etc etc etc.

Instead it is the serious phase of my youth.  I'm sobering up and looking at the world with eyes of someone who now has a full three decades under her belt.

In a nut shell things I've learned a few things.  Below is a list, off the top of my head (note: there should be many, many more things not listed here.... hopefully) of what I've learned:  

Decade One: 0-10

a twin is cool and makes me cool

a big family rocks

not all step parents are evil - some are the squishy teddy bear type that love you like crazy

imagination is key - don't leave home without it

food is a beautiful thing

turkeys are awful pets if you are shorter than them

swimming and riding a bike are necessary adventures for all humans under 10

math is over rated

siblings can be mean

other people can be mean

learn from older siblings 

Decade Two: 11-20

Jr. high is a period of life which resembles hell

being tall at twelve is only advantageous if you play basketball - unless you suck at basketball

stick with the flute -- do not play sports if you are not a natural athlete 

pierced ears-- a right of passage

high school teachers can be scary

high school teachers can be motivational

if you have the opportunity to hang out with the opposite sex in high school -- do it

it is necessary to make friends with people outside ones family

friends in high school are fantastic, will most likely be acquaintences later in life

dating can teach one a lot about themselves

dating can be painful

Decade Three: 21-30

university is equally about book learning as it is learning about ones self

don't get involved in your boyfriends family "politics"

deal with skeletons from childhood early

anxiety disorders can be managed

willingness to take a big leap can mean a big reward at the end

living overseas is an adventure

one may not marry the person they expected

marry the nice nerdy guy

there is no pain like that of losing a parent

being stylish is a good thing

having a savings account is necessary

it is not easy to mold the life dreamed of but it is worth the struggle all the same.

Mt Ruapehu - keep the adventures coming!