Today is my last day of my 30's. I LOVED being in my 30's and am a little nervous about being 40. For some reason I think 40 is old, outdated - just not 30 something. I thought I would do a rough overview of my 30's to get some perspective of what I am leaving behind:
- I started it by living at East Wind - an intentional community in Missouri. We went with great idealism and saw that crushed by the reality of people in different places in their lives.
- Went through my husbands darkest hours while he was hospitalized for depression in San Francisco.
- Saw my daughter thrive under a watchful teacher who saw her leadership skills - she talks with her still on Facebook.
- Worked with some of the greatest people of my life while living in San Francisco - and developed my own leadership skills and started the fermentation of the idea that it is all about relationships... business, pleasure, family... all of it.
- Left everything I ever knew to move to the south to slow down and dive deeply into a new community - feet first as they say.
- Was humiliated as I was fired from a very public job because I refused to pretend that corruption wasn't happen - and was later vindicated.
- Moved my parents to be nearer us and was wrapped into the web of caretaker reluctantly - and then suffered my greatest loss at losing them within a year of each other.
- Watched my daughter navigate her teens with strength, determination and a bit of mother daughter yelling that couldn't have been healthy.
- Thought I had ruined my marriage to only find it again - not intact, but ready to be pieced together with better glue.
What have I learned in my 30's:
- We all die.
- Every moment counts.
- Listen more.
- It is ok to not fit in.
- Everyone is cool in their own mind.
- Happiness is overrated - don't look for it - it is right there in the small things.
- Small is perfect - less is more - you don't need a bunch of crap.
- Connect - just connect with those you come into contact with - you never know who/what will make a difference.
So, on this last day of my 30's I am hopeful that I can come into a stride in my 40's, feel the power that surrounds me, find humor in all that life offers, and relax a little.
Wish me luck folks - I am, as usual, diving in feet first.
