I think at 30 it is really clear that the past ten years
really paved the way for the next ten years, and if I could meet myself at 20 I
would simply say, keep going, carry on,
you got this. I know you are a creature
of habit, you like things neat, organized, and simple. When things get
difficult you are known to talk to yourself, so again I say, keep going, carry
on, you got this.
At 20 you worked three jobs, shut down the library writing
research papers, followed by shutting down Buffalo Wild Wings the night after
to celebrate (because you always did run with such a WILD crowd-haha). You won’t regret any of that. The classes, the professors, the roommates,
the friends, the being totally broke, you won’t ever regret it. So keep going, carry on, you got this.
At 22 you will student teach 35 third graders in the inner
city. It is exactly the city you grew up
in, but oh so different than your childhood.
It is will be draining not only physically but emotionally too, and you
will still be broke. You will wonder what the heck you are doing. Guess what?
You won’t regret it. So keep
going, carry on, you got this.
At just a few weeks short of twenty three, you will meet
someone who will change your life forever.
He is smart, funny, deeply Catholic, and college educated. On paper he is his everything you want and
more. But something far greater than the
organized check list you make is really pulling you on this one. You are the girl who worries and questions
everything and you have not a SINGLE doubt about this guy. In fact, you feel like you can totally and
completely be you around him. You
realize you have really opened yourself up to vulnerability with this guy, but
nothing has ever felt more right. Guess
what? At 30, you won’t have any
doubts. He will still be the one thing
in your life you are most certain of. So
keep going, carry on, you got this.
At twenty three you
will get that dream job you worked hard for in college. It will thrill and excite you. It will be more challenging than you ever imagined. You will love it. You will become better at it each year. However, at twenty eight you will be ready end
that chapter of your life. At twenty six
you became a mom. It was amazing and
beautiful and changed your life. Now,
at twenty eight you are ready to say goodbye to the career and devote yourself entirely
to being a wife and mom. You won’t
regret this, keep going, carry on, you got this.
Here you are at 30. You are a stay at home mom with three
kids. Admittedly some days are
long. You spend a lot of time doing
laundry, reading aloud books, making and preparing three meals and day plus
snacks. You aim to keep the days
slow. Your kids thrive on this. You have learned
to love this. There is nothing greater
than these long slow days. I imagine
you won’t regret these moments with these children, so keep going, carry on,
you got this.
*This picture is from 29 year old, but it sums up daily life at 30 years old as well.
