So this is what it feels like to be thirty

comments 12
Life

This post is a little overdue. I had planned to post this a day or so after I turned thirty. But a day turned into two. Then five. It’s well over a week now. Though maybe the distance between the day I turned thirty and now is a good thing?

So, yes. July 13th was my thirtieth birthday. Let me tell you something, dear reader. To say I wasn’t exactly looking forward to turning thirty was a slight understatement. But there was nothing stopping it happening!

The day pretty much perfect. Spoilt for breakfast. A day doing more or less nothing. Then out for a surprise dinner. The surprise being I didn’t know where I was being taken. (Sushi! My first time eating proper sushi too.)

Being in Bahrain and it being Ramadan, we were limited on what we could do during the day. But I think we made the most of the rest of the day.

I wanted to post about all the things I’ve learnt in the last 30 years. But I’m not sure I’ve learnt all that much!

Duck and weave… duck and weave!

I never thought for a second that I’d be spending my 30th birthday in Bahrain, that’s for sure. I didn’t even think I’d move out of London, let alone the country. So maybe one thing I can say I have learnt is to just go with the flow. Sometimes, you just have to see where you’ll end up without worrying too much.

You’ll get there, when you get there

I had a lot of expectations of myself. Where I wanted to be by what age. Who I wanted to be. What I wanted to be. Looking back, it was stupid. You’ve got to be more flexible. Have goals. But don’t put undue pressure on yourself. It won’t do you any good! Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t totally broken this way of thinking. Yet! Getting there.

Then there’s Baz Luhrman’s Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen. Better advice than I can ever give. And will never not be relevant.

So here I am. In a whole new age bracket. Hello 30s, nice to meet you.

12 Comments

  1. Glad you had a fun birthday! I had a tough time with turning 30, too. When the time came, I sailed through 40 and 45 with no problem, but for some reason 30 was a difficult turning point for me. πŸ™‚

    • I think we’re all programmed to believe that turning 30 is the worst thing that can happen to you in your life! Shame on your, 30!

  2. Happy birthday, Jaina! And I can see no better way to celebrate than with some proper sushi. πŸ˜‰

  3. Happy birthday! 30 ain’t so bad even though…I’m not complaining and I’m almost at the end of them πŸ™‚

  4. Happy belated birthday! And really, FIRST proper sushi in Bahrain?!? What they have in England???? As for being in a new age bracket, that’s not really until 35 ;). Glad it was a great day!

    • Thanks Lisa! Well, when I say proper sushi I mean an actual Japanese restaurant, not something like Yo Sushi. Proper sashimi, unagi, the whole enchilada!

      So I have 5 more years to really be in my thirties? Phew, I have more time! πŸ˜‰

  5. Belated happy birthday! πŸ™‚ Great day you had! I’ve definitely done the whole “worry too much”, so I should just go with the flow!
    I love that video you shared. On a side note, I recently heard Venus Williams say in interview that using sunscreen during her career helped her maintain her youthful looks(she’s 34)

  6. I’m hoping the other side is not that different than it is now, although it’s fantastic you got spoilt rotten for you birthday! Here’s to a fantastic decade Jaina!

  7. Oh you young’un you! Enjoy being 30, I’ll be entering a whole new age bracket too next year, but not yet, not yet πŸ™‚

  8. Happy Birthday, Jaina! I really agree that life is easier and better when you’re flexible. I have put so much “undue pressure” on myself. That’s great advice. Hope your 30th year is your best yet. πŸ™‚

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