This Is 30

Getting older is an interesting thing.

Last year, the majority of my friends turned 30. Some turned 31, a few even turned 32.
This year I turn 30.
Next year, a lot more of my friends hit the big 3-0. Then a few years after that, Emily and the rest of the friends I made in grad school will be turning 30.

While the timing of reaching this numerical milestone has been different for everyone (unless folks share a birthday), one thing has been consistent - the flipping out of people across the board. Social media has given me a wonderful window into the minds of friends and acquaintances, near and far, and almost all of them have used "30" as this measuring stick for things they should have accomplished by now.

Some of the most common worries I've seen start with... "I'm [almost] 30, why haven't I..." and end with one of the following:

• completed college
• started/finished grad school
• moved
• stopped partying
• gotten engaged/married
• had kids
• bought a house/car
• gotten a promotion/new job
• made/saved more money
• etc., etc., etc.

It's heartbreaking to see everyone beat themselves up over goals that have no defined deadline. Honestly speaking, I too was (quietly) among the group of worriers. What was I worrying over? Being left behind I guess. No one wants to be the last person to reach an important stage in life, right? Then it hit me...life isn't a competition.

The timeline that works for me may not be best for others. Some folks wanted to be married with two kids by the time they were 25. Me? I just wanted to be done with my MBA by then. Others may just now be purchasing their first car. Myself? Been there, done that, got the title. A few have already purchased their first house. I'm over here apartment living. No situation is better than the other. It's all about doing what's best for you.

Somewhere over the past few months I made the decision to not worry over the 'little things.' Major events will happen. I will move forward. Life is both too short and too long to stress over what may or may occur.