Today is the last day of the Not-So-Dirty 30 Blog Series and Giveaway! J over at Bless Her Heart Y’all and I have had such a great time celebrating our 30th birthdays together over the past month. Thank you so much for joining us throughout this series. We have covered Birthday Beverages, Birthday Cakes, Birthday Gifts, and have already done one Birthday Giveaway.
I really like today’s post though because I’m such a sucker for posts that actually make me think.
Today I am sharing 30 Things to Know and Do before 30. And guess what! At the very bottom, we are wrapping up this series with ANOTHER awesome giveaway!
1. Be careful with trust. Do not trust anyone everyone. You are blessed if you have one person, other than yourself, who truly is looking out for your best interests. The company you’ve given 7+ years of service to could really careless about you. Be okay with that. Do you job. And do it well. But know, they may be okay with replacing you.
2. Nesting isn’t just for preggos. Your house is a blank canvas. Make it you. Make it home. You’re no longer in a college apartment - it’s time you save your dollars and get real furniture.
3. Don’t listen to ‘em - There is nothing wrong with rearranging your home annually.
4. Exercise. Even if you hate it. They weren’t lying when they said “it is harder to ‘get fit’ when you’re older.” Even if you’re not a runner - do a 5 or 10k with a friend. Even if you have to walk it. It’s an empowering feeling.
5. Talk to your grandparents and parents now. Become friends with them. Ask them about what it was like when they were growing up. Discover what life was before the iPhone, before cable television, before computers. Document, record, and share their stories of the depression, love, war, travels, and life ‘back in the day.’ This will be something you will cherish in the future.
6. Get into the habit of doing laundry. Stop buying underwear just so you don’t have to wash your clothes.
7. Pick good friends. Know that friends really do come and go from your life. Some are seasonal. Some are yearly. Very few last a decade, never mind forever. Cherish those folks who have been there for you from the beginning but be thankful for all of them.
8. Be a good friend/ family member/ spouse. Remember birthdays. Send a “I hope you’re having a great day” text for no reason. Return calls. Schedule lunch. Plan skype dates. Don’t lose touch when you have a spouse and kids.
9. Travel. Visit at least three foreign countries before you’re 30. One for each decade. Backpack. Ride trains. Eat food that’s “weird.” Jump in the ice cold Rhine River. Sleep in a prison turned hostel. Camp in a field. Take advantage of flight layovers. Experience things that aren’t in your backyard.
10. Eat dinner in a restaurant alone. It’s a humbling experience.
11. Embrace your culture. Whether it’s from your heritage or simply your geographic region. Find your roots and become them.
12. You are what you eat. Even though it seems delicious, avoid fast and processed foods. Discover clean eating immediately and take it upon yourself to live a healthy clean lifestyle.
13. Drink wine. All types of wine. Learn to appreciate the differences in good, inexpensive wines. There’s no sense in spending a ton of your hard earned money on expensive bottles of booze. Save that for your 40s.
14. Turn off technology. Put your cell phone away. Be in the moment. Do not use your cell phone when you’re eating dinner with friends, family, or your spouse.
15. Don’t try to be someone else. They really aren’t all they seem to be. Be the best you, you can be.
16. Burn candles and buy yourself flowers.
17. Cloth napkins aren’t just for formal occasions.
18. Ease into responsibility by adopting a cat. If you’re open to a little more commitment and work, adopt a dog. If you’re really trying to experience the closest thing to a permanent, hyper, yet brilliant child - adopt a border collie.
19. Read. I don’t care if you read the classics, blogs, magazines, work emails, romance novels or nonfiction. Just read.
20. Go to the beach alone. Appreciate the massiveness that is the ocean. People watch like it’s your job.
21. LBD. It may not be the most creative or prettiest color, but black really is a classic, not to mention slimming. Find at least 2 classic “Little Black Dresses” that will be staples in your wardrobe.
22. Know that everyone fails and falls, just like you. Be there to help your friends up without expecting it in return. Be thankful/surprised/blessed when they are there for you. Don’t live in fear of failing. Try new things. Buy a cafe. Experiment with a new paint color. Try a new career. Mix unexpected fashion pieces. Move to a new city. But be smart and know that you may fail. Or you could end up with buckets of success or a new hobby you love.
23. Even the prettiest, hunkiest, smartest, wittiest folks have insecurities. You’re not as fat as you think. Stop worrying about what people think of you. Don’t ignore them, but don’t let their views and your perception of their lives consume yours.
23.5. Stop comparing your life to someone’s facebook timeline. Don’t let their travel selfies, elegant dinner snapshots, engagement/marriage/baby announcements, or business venture page suggestions with 100+ likes take up more than a second of your life. You cannot compare your rough day to their public social media outlets. Remember everyone has bad days. Everyone has struggles.
24. Go on a mission trip to a Third World Country. I promise you will gain more than you could ever give.
25. Give online dating a shot. There’s nothing wrong with putting yourself out there - just be smart about it. Trust your gut. Don’t talk to anyone with half naked pictures. Meet in a public place. Make sure that he/she writes good emails with perfect grammar. And if you feel the need to run away via the bathroom window - do it. It’s okay to be alone. Don’t date someone just because it’s easy or convenient. You both deserve more.
26. Don’t elope. Your wedding and your funeral are the only two times in your life with all of your loved ones will be in the same exact room at the same exact time. Celebrate, party, eat, and drink it up with all of your favorite people whenever you can.
27. Find your passion and embrace it. Even if you realize it’s only your passion for five minutes or a year. Obsess, learn, love and live.
28. Be creative. Even if you are the least creative person you know. Try to draw, cook, blog, paint, write, design, create. You never know what’s hiding in your bag of tricks unless you try.
29. Start saving for retirement immediately. I don’t care if it’s a nickel a day. Start saving now. No one wants to work forever.
30. Do good things. Do things you are proud of. Enjoy the little moments. Have the time of your life. Embrace you.
What else would you recommend that people should know or do before 30?
And now, as promised, another awesome birthday present giveaway! There’s a ton of goodies and a bunch of ways to get your lovely self entered to win! You have until Monday 7/14/14 at 11:45PM to enter. But what are you really waiting for?!
