20ish things to do before turning 30

Image Posted on May 23, 2015

 
As I turn 30 for only the 4th time (I think) I’m now ready to own my 30ish and fabulous life!  I think the hesitation to accept my true age was the realization that I really can’t be this old unless my ish is somewhat together.  Finally, I think I’m there…at least for the time being. Here are some things I had to do, and you can do, too 🙂

1. Stop stalking your exes!  You broke up for a reason; so if you were supposed to be dating them, you’d still be together.  Do yourself a favor and delete them from your social media accounts to avoid the temptation.  Oh, and using your friend’s page as a decoy is still stalking.
2. Stop using acronyms ROTHLOL; YOLO; TTYL.  Words are powerful, use them. Otherwise, you may be confused with a teenager. 
3. Have a savings plan or emergency fund in place.  You need a few months of living expenses just in case….and just in case is not an impromptu trip to Cancun.
4. Get off of your parents’ phone plan.  You can’t claim to be an independent woman if you need your father’s permission to upgrade to an iPhone 6.  Just sayin’.
5. Delete the guy in your phone who only texts after 2 am.  You deserve better than that.
6. Grab that sweater (or dress, pair of pants, etc.,)  you think you’ll wear one day if you’re not wearing it now, haven’t worn it in years and don’t see it making a comeback in 2015.   Yea, throw that thing out. Clearly, your body has an aversion to it.
7. Get your own spot.  Living in your parents’ basement, or your BFF’s couch does not count.
8. Have a best friend who is like a sister.  She’s there for you no matter what, and will tell you what you need to hear.  Who needs a ton of ‘friends’ when all you need is one really good one?
9. A closet of “staples,” and among these things, something to wear to an interview, funeral, wedding, spontaneous Friday night drink at a casual bar and a dream date if Idris Elba ever knocks at your door.
10. Negotiate your salary.  Women do this far less than men when offered a new job (hello, we work so hard we really should be paid more!).  If you’re not in the market for a new job, ask for a raise or a promotion.  Be fabulously fearless, and use your
11. Unfriend that friend who never calls you.  You don’t need to tell her you’re letting her go (girl, bye!), but mentally, it’s time to stop harping on relationships that aren’t productive, meaningful, and were dead around the same time of Nick Cannon’s rapping career. His comeback is as pathetic as you expecting her to call.
12. Have a hobby that has nothing to do with drinking, shopping or being around a particular person all of the time.
13. Memorize recipes for a number of easy meals in case you find yourself hosting a last minute dinner.
14. Get a passport.  See the world, not just the next town over.  Be prepared to pack at a moment’s notice to get away for a weekend, a week, or a whole new life. 
15. Have a trip you can tell awesome stories about and a few details that you swear to take with you to the grave.  And pictures that did not pass approval from your friends to post on Facebook. 
16.  Have a spiritual relationship.  Connecting with a Higher Power really helps to center us and it’s crucial for us to not walk around this world aimlessly with no sense of purpose or fulfillment.  Life is too short, get connected.
17. Have an idea of who you want to be.  Please, not a Kardashian (if so, please read #9).  
18. Stop snacking in bed after 9pm.   Face it, after 9pm you might as well just tape the carbs/fat to your actual thighs.
19. Let go of your social media addiction.  You’re going to have some other addictions to worry about and your time may be best spent picking up a book.
20. Stop having cheap clothing splurges.  A $6 skirt at Forever 21 isn’t a good find (we’ve got to do better ladies), it’s as If you have pants that have the letters P-I-N-K going across your behind – which means NO BUENO.  Put them back on the rack.  
21. Invest in a black blazer. Dude! Zara has some good ones.
22. Having five glasses of wine… every night.  What are you going to do when you’re actually going through a mid-life crisis?  Turn up on a Wednesday? I need you to get to work early on Thursday instead.
23. Stop talking about it and just be about it.  Think about all the times you have moaned to a coworker about how unhappy at work you are or to a friend about how miserable you are with your boyfriend. We talk trash because it’s easy, comfortable, and cathartic — but nobody will know, and nothing will change, until you speak up.  So do something.
24. Date a guy you never would have dated before.   I know, I know, you may think you have a good idea of what you want in a  romantic relationship,  but the willingness to explore different people and other ideas to find what exactly what you need is such an eye opener.  News Flash – looking for the perfect man is a waste of time.  The sooner you realize sacrifices must be made, the sooner you’ll start to appreciate the parts of life you do have (we’ll discuss the 80/20 rule another time).   In life, no one has it all… except maybe Beyoncé.
25. Stop worrying!  It’s the hardest thing to let go of, but the most worthwhile once you do. Think about it, what would you do or try if you weren’t afraid? Kick worrying, and caring what other people (may) think about you to the curb, and living your life by just being free – being you.