“It’s the Bubbly…”

Is 30 the New 20?

By Dawn P.

I’m sure by now, you have heard the Jay-Z song that I reference in the title for this week’s column, but I ask…is 30 really the new 20? Or is it just that every decade we age, we do whatever we can to feel “young” again? To make ourselves feel “warm and fuzzy” about aging. So, are you telling me that eventually 40 will be the new 30 and 50 will be the new 40? Why can’t we all just be happy to age gracefully?

We’ve become a nation obsessed with what’s “fresh” and “new” and we don’t embrace the idea of growing old. Anything that’s thought of as old is thrown to the side like last year’s Jordan’s. There is this constant struggle for people to remain relevant as they age. Just look at how many celebrities have gone under the knife in an effort to still appeal to their fanbase. Burt Reynolds, Mickey Rourke, and Joan Rivers immediately come to mind as poster children for “When Plastic Surgery Goes Wrong”. Being in Hollyweird that is expected, but there are alarming rates of more and more “normal” people getting a little nip here and a little tuck there.

Because we don’t cherish our elders like we should and we don’t take the time to listen and learn from them, we see growing old as this horrible thing. In actuality, it is the most beautiful thing that God can give us. We don’t cherish the fact that God has allowed us to live another day. To make it to 30, 60, 80, 100 years old. Think about that. Think about how many young people lose their lives daily and never get a chance to even see their 30th birthday.

I’m turning 30 this year and you know what…I’m loving every minute of it! It initially felt “weird” to me because I don’t feel 30, whatever that is supposed to feel like, but I do feel like I’ve matured. Some of my friends that are also turning 30 are depressed about making the leap to 30, but I am celebrating it. I just think about how much I’ve learned over the years. So many experiences. Good choices, bad choices and down right stupid choices. But they were my choices to make and I wouldn’t be where I am now, without those experiences.

Maybe it’s because making that transition from your 20’s to your 30’s, at least for me, it feels like “ooh, I’m all grown up now.” So when mama says, “Go to the other room, this is grown folks business”. Guess what? We get to stay! Turning 30 is a milestone though. A lot of my peers are already married, have children, divorced, own homes and even businesses. And in your 30s your priorities shift to those things like balancing family and career all while making sure the mortgage gets paid. Unlike in your 20’s, when most of us were just trying to graduate to be able to get a good job so we can repay our student loans, all while ducking creditor calls. My 20’s were great and I wouldn’t trade those years for the world, but now it’s time to take it to the next level. To get my grown and sexy on. No longer am I anxious for Friday nights at Republic Gardens or hitting up happy hour every night of the week. Nowadays, if I can make it through an after work dinner without yawning that is an accomplishment.

In your 20s, you have the stress of leaving mommy and daddy and coming into your own. Now, my focus is more on what will my legacy be? In the 30 years I’ve been here, I’d like to think that I’ve made a difference in this world. I’d like to think that me being here has contributed to society in some way, shape or form. And if I’ve missed the mark, I’d like to think that God will bless me with at least another 30 + years to keep on trying.

So, is 30 the new 20? No, it’s not. 30’s the new 30. Love it. Embrace It. Live It!

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