Reflecting on Life at 30

If you had asked me as a little girl where I thought I may be and what I would be doing when I turned 30 I would have probably answered with a million things so far from where I am now.  At first I wanted to be a teacher.  I would spend hours in my room as a little girl, the only girl of 4 with my circle of dolls and stuffed animals reading to them as a teacher would and showing off all the illustrations before I flipped to the next page.  Then as I grew up I aimed higher.  I thought I’d become a CEO of a company or the first female president of the United States.  I believe the quote from my 8^th grade graduation says “I see myself as the first female president of the United States fighting for issues like women’s rights.” HA! 

But my reality is, I went to UGA as an aspiring broadcaster studying what else, Broadcast Journalism only to land myself in a coveted internship with Fox 5 Atlanta the summer before my senior year to throw my plans to the wind and come up with the ‘brilliant’ idea of heading to law school the next year.  Then, my life plans really shifted.  I spent, undoubtedly the worst/hardest to date 3 years of my life studying a profession that clearly wasn’t meant for me, found myself humbled beyond belief in those years as I persevered to make it through and the few after that as I stumbled to find my way toward where I was meant to be - Thank God I found a job I love now-, in the process put off getting married for a few years longer than I had always thought I would, and as ripple effects go, didn’t start a family until I was 29 years old.  Which means by the time I turn 30, I am way off my original plan of having 4 kids already.

All this leads me to today, the last day of my 20s!  I haven’t had time to really process this huge milestone in the past two weeks since I feel like I’ve been jumping from one doctor appointment to the next – first my severely dry eyes where the dr. had to put plugs in to trap my tears and I’m taking prescription drops to correct the red/pink staining around my cornea.  Then I came down with another spell of stress induced/teeth grinding at night TMJ last week which was only exacerbated by an infected nerve beneath an old cavity that turned into a root canal treatment Tuesday (thank God for narcotics!).  As I told someone this week, if this is was greats me in the 30s, I fear my 40s!

But I digress, as all attorneys and talkers do.  Maybe that profession was really meant for me after all ;)…  but that’s the point of this rambling.  Despite the best laid plans I wouldn’t change a thing!  

I made myself proud finishing law school and passing the bar and learned so many lessons about myself along the way.  Without that education I wouldn't have the job I have today which allows me to have the best of both worlds seeing my daughter grow every day and helping to provide for my family.  I married my best friend and while we have our moments I wouldn’t want to walk this journey with anyone else.  And best of all we’ve started a beautiful family together with a daughter who makes my life so rich and full every day.  I can’t imagine nor would I wish to have it any other way.  It’s funny how God always gives you exactly what you need and can handle in life and I’m a firm believer that with faith and perseverance anything is possible. 

While it’s easy to say, I always thought I’d be here or there by the time I reached X age, you just kind of have to stop and appreciate the ride and where it’s taken you.  I’m not going to lie, saying I’m 20 something sounds way cooler than 30 something ;)  But, with age comes knowledge and experience and hopefully more kids to enrich my life even more.  I feel blessed for a wonderful 30 first years with an amazing family and friends that have helped to shaped me into the person I have become and I hope that the next 30 bring me equal health, happiness and blessings along the way.  So, happy 30th birthday to me! :) 

All the important things in life - family and friends!

Magid Family Ryan's wedding Oct. 2013

Spivey/Posener Beach trip July 2013

friends at our wedding 

UGA homecoming game Nov 9 - our happy little family

Best part of every day!