30 Things I Learned Before Turning 30

ACCORDING TO MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE, I TURN 30 THIS YEAR.IT’S WEIRD BECAUSE PART OF ME STILL FEELS 18 AND PART OF ME FEELS 283, BUT THE ACTUAL, FACTUAL AGE I CURRENTLY AM IS 29. I’VE HEARD PEOPLE SAY THAT YOUR THIRTIES ARE “THE MOST FUN!” SO I’LL DEFINITELY KEEP YOU POSTED ON MY FINDINGS ON THAT WHEN I KNOW. BUT UNTIL THEN, I THOUGHT I’D SHARE SOME LESSONS I’VE LEARNED BEFORE REACHING 30, BECAUSE IT’S 2019 AND SHARING IS CARING.

1. I learned to block some of the noise. Social media can be great, but it can also inundate your brain with images of what you aren’t, how you’re failing, or who is in a cooler locale than you at any given moment. One thing I do to lessen this weird insecurity laser beam is to turn off comments. Yes, I keep comments off on my posts. That way, I’m showing my friends and fans updates on my life, but I’m training my brain to not need the validation of someone telling me I look. I’m also blocking out anyone who might feel the need to tell me to “go die in a hole ho” while I’m having my coffee at nine in the morning. I think it’s healthy for your self-esteem to need less internet praise to appease it, especially when three comments down you could unwittingly see someone telling you that you look like a weasel that got hit by a truck and stitched back together by a drunk taxidermist. An actual comment I received once.

2. Being sweet to everyone all the time can get you into a lot of trouble. While it may be born from having been raised to be a polite young lady, this can contribute to some of your life’s worst regrets if someone takes advantage of this trait in you. Grow a backbone, trust your gut, and know when to strike back. Be like a snake—only bite if someone steps on you.