Thirty feels like a slap in the face and a welcoming hug. An awkward age of becoming old and departing young. The point at which the sheer number of birthday candles can be considered an incendiary hazard. And while I don’t yet get the benefits of a senior discount, I am thankful and excited for this milestone and the new decade.
Reflecting on the past ten years, I can summarize most of it into one word: discovery.
In my early twenties, I was lost, passionate, and hungry. I was ready for new adventures. I began discovering myself and uncovering the things that truly excited me. My interest in art and storytelling led me to drawing, writing, photography, and filmmaking. I discovered my love for trail running, the outdoors, and the joy of reading. Ten years of lessons, missteps, success, and failure brought me to where I am today.
There were so many positives from my twenties. I met my soulmate, got married, built long-lasting friendships, became an uncle, ran ultramarathons, traveled to several countries, lived in Boston, and found a job where I can utilize a lot of my creative skills.
However, the past decade also had its challenges too. I lived a majority of it in financial stress, I lost friends, I was laid off during the pandemic, several close relatives had cancer, and there were disagreements with my family that pulled at relationships.
In no way do I have life figured out, but I’m realizing life’s highs and lows are equally important. Bad times give perspective, and good times give gratitude.
As I step into my thirties, I’m taking the following advice and lessons I’ve learned along the way — many of which I continue to improve upon in the upcoming years:
- Communication is key
- Spend money on experiences
- Don’t worry about what people are thinking
- Regularly talk/spend time with family
- College doesn’t guarantee success
- Regularly invest
- Stay present
- Consistently step out of the comfort zone
- Consistently take time to reset and realign
- Never skimp on recovery
- Never skimp on strength training
- Never skimp on good, healthy food
- Never skimp on sleep
- Ego is the enemy
- Comparison is a killer
- Don’t take things for granted
- Journal every day
- Say no
- It’s either a Hell Yeah or No
- Ask for help
- Failure is a part of the process
- Small progress every day
- Read everyday
- Approach life with love in your heart
- Stay curious
- Always question
- Don’t forget to have fun
- Smile
And before I end, I want to share a short excerpt from the Dr. Seuss classic, One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish :
“Today is gone. Today was fun.
Tomorrow is another one.
Every day, from here to there,
funny things are everywhere.”
Here’s to another year around the sun! Sending love and good vibes,
Ryan