Oh yes, another year has flown by and now, it’s birthday time again :)

I have officially survived my first year in my 30s.

How did I do it? Well, there isn’t really one answer, but I did start drinking more :)

Seriously though, another year is gone and suddenly I’m looking back at it wondering how I went from 29 to 30 to now 31. It goes so fast.

So to help usher in 31, I decided to party like I was 21 (giving that milestone memory a fond revisit) and I found that in 10 years, things are dramatically different, which is mostly good, minus the fact that I can’t bounce back from drinking very quickly anymore. Ouch.

But seriously, the first year in your 30s can be tough. I found that everyone looks at you differently when you tell them your age. They either don’t believe you (fingers crossed), look you over closely to see if they believe you or they nod understandingly and pass you sample of anti-aging creme (if you’re not looking for it already).

And while my 30 was a turbulent year, full of high points (solo travel!) and low points (don’t want to talk about it), it really is a time of change, which isn’t so bad.

One big change: I’m not waiting for things I want anymore. I can handle being conservative in my career and finances, but the one thing I’m ready to bust out of is holding back on the things I want personally.

I spent too much of my 20s second guessing what I wanted and day dreaming of what I would do if I had enough time off, money, etc.

NO MORE.

The biggest accomplishment this year: solo travel. Since May, I’ve taken two solo trips: Nola and Napa. I’ve traveled to NYC for BlogHer and Vegas for BISC. And next month, I’m off to Denver for a few days.

My 30s are about celebrating me and after years of insane poverty (thanks college!) I am ready to take some of my disposable income and see the country and eventually, the world.

It’s time to stop holding myself back because I’m scared, I’m ready to embrace me and face my biggest fears, whether they are dining out alone or participating in a dance class with people who clearly know what they’re doing and I don’t.

I feel optimistic and that my insecurities from my 20s are ready to be knocked off one by one.

Sure, there are some days I am depressed beyond belief and stare at friends and family who have homes, families and dogs, wondering if I’m failure. But I’m not. And I can’t compare myself to them. Because I love my life.

I predict there is a lot coming up for me this year. I’m not sure if all of them will succeed, but I’m ready for it. Because if I can survive my 20s and the first year of my 30s with only a few battle scars, I can pretty much handle anything.

And now, I’m ready to celebrate today with some wine :)

JB out.