Thoughtful MOvember

 

Today is officially my last Monday as a 30 year old!! Holey moley!! Where has the time gone? Every year seems to speed by a little bit faster than the last. I am a fan of my birthday and don't really get sad about growing older, but I am thoughtful as the day grows near. It's interesting to think about where I used to think I wanted to be compared to where I am now. Ten years ago when I was about to turn 21, I was still fairly certain that I wanted to get married right out of college. Having serious boyfriends early on and sisters who married younger will do that to you. I also anticipated it being much, much easier to land a job teaching in my own classroom fulltime. Who would of thought that there would ever be a time when teachers weren't be hired?? Whoops.

Well, ten years has come aaaaaaand gone. Over the course of that time I reevaluated my thoughts on marriage before my 30s- some due to circumstance, but mostly because I realized just how important my 20s were for my own growth and development as the individual I wanted to become. I now, honestly, feel as though I have a good grasp of the person I was meant to become and let me tell you it.feels.amazing to have this sense of self :) I went through a lot in order to become the woman I am today and I don't regret any of it. The sour along the way has made the sweet that much better.

Although I have had a plethora of unique teaching experiences that I never dreamed I would have had back when I was 21 years old, I still have not had luck getting a teaching job here in Portland, where I want to be. As an almost 31 year old, my work would be the area where I don't feel as fulfilled as I hoped to be by this time in my life. I will continue to strive to feel fulfilled in my work persona, but I also realize that I my life is so much better than I could have hoped it would be at 30 years old, even without my dream job :) I'm so lucky in so many ways. My family is healthy and I am able to see and spend time with some of them regularly, I have an amazing boyfriend who loves and respects me while making me laugh every single day... he is the mac to my cheese :), two rabbits whom I can cuddle when I'm having a rough day, a job that pays well enough for me to live, save a bit and scratch my travel itch while allowing me to use my education to some extent as well as a roof over my head that I pay for on my own :) If 31 is anywhere close to being as good as the years that have come before than I welcome it with open arms and a BIG smile on my face.