A little over two weeks ago, I turned the big 3-0.
It’s funny - last year on my birthday, I was nervous, because I was thinking, “wow, this is the last one before the big one, I’m probably going to totally freak out when next June rolls around!” But you know what? I didn’t.
It won’t come as a surprise that I don’t feel any different now that I’m 30 than I did when I was 29 (or 28, for that matter). Maybe that had something to do with how I chose to spend my birthday - celebrating myself, rather than feeling sorry for “being old”.
I took a day off work and treated myself to a spa day at Kurhotel Skodsborg (more on that in a separate post), sweating in the saunas and steam baths, wading through the ice cold foot bath, swimming in the pool, and relaxing in the lounge with a cucumber water. Afterwards, I had a delicious lunch in the hotel lobby.
And in the evening, I hosted a couple of my friends at my favorite cocktail bar - Curfew - where we toasted with champagne and a truly kick-ass special-made birthday punch, which came in a giant silver bowl with a pineapple on top.
Since they’re back home in Germany, my family wasn’t here to celebrate with me, but I spoke to all of them and got various birthday songs sung to me over the phone - and I got to pick up four packages filled with amazing birthday gifts!
Since my sisters and I all moved away from home, and I even moved to a different country, family birthdays aren’t always a possibility. But that’s okay, because we just celebrate every time we see each other!
Turns out, turning 30 isn’t so bad at all!
Today, in honor of my 30th birthday and to kick off this new decade of my life, I thought I’d share three quotes that have inspired me recently and that I’m trying to live by.
The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.
- William Shakespeare
My heart is at ease knowing that what is meant for me will never miss me and that which misses me was never meant for me.
- Imam al-Shafi’i
There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.
- C. S. Lewis
So here’s to the first 30 years and to the next, to all the amazing friends I’ve made and adventures I’ve had - and to the many more to come!
How did you feel about turning 30 (or 20, or 40, or 50…)? Let me know in the comments!
Happy birthday! I love those quotes too! :)
Thank you, Kaitlyn! :)
When I turned 30, I wanted to do a big send off yo my 20’s with too much alcohol and partying till the early morning. Thinking it was downhill once I hit 30, but it’s been the best decade of my life so far!! My 30’s have been far superior and for my 40th in a couple years, I’m taking my wife and son ( and possible second child by then) on a destination birthday extravaganza to an exotic location yet to be determined.
You know what they say - the 30s are the new 20s! I like your 40th birthday plan, too! :)
Happy birthday Laura! I hope you have a wonderful year to follow.
I was a bit apprehensive about turning 30 but I’m enjoying my thirties and have been very fortunate to travel more in the last few years (just getting ready for my third trip to Copenhagen from Australia, very excited!)