A few birthday reflections...

*I'm having formatting issues with the font today - my apologies for the mixed up fonts and type sizes...

Today I woke up and I was thirty years old.

Sure, age is just a number. And yes, I am very very lucky to get to be 1 year older, happy and healthy. But I can’t disregard the fact that I woke up feeling a tad funny. I was in the shower and having a serious moment. My train of thought went a little something like this: “I’m thirty. I’m thirty. I’m THIR-TY. THIRTY!”

I can very clearly put myself in the shoes of my 14 year old self and remember what I thought 30 years old would be like. 30 years olds were real grown-ups. The kind that had a car, a house, kids and a career.

Obviously, as you grow up, you come to realize that you never really have that moment where you feel like a proper grown-up.

I think you always sort of feel like you’re 14 year old self (or a younger version of yourself anyways). I don’t own a home or have 2.5 children or a car. But I think that my 14 year old self would be proud of the 30 year old I’ve become. I am in a committed relationship with a really wonderful man. I’ve traveled. I have a career that – albeit some twists and turns – allows me to flex my creative muscles and that really fulfills me. I have a very very cute cat. I have a great little apartment in one of the coolest cities in the world. More importantly, I have a strong sense of self. I can honestly say that I lived it up in my twenties and that I feel like I’ve reached goals that I couldn’t have even dreamed up for myself at 14 years of age.

Yeah, I think that if 14 year old Marie-Eve had a glimpse into the future, she would be pretty psyched about what was to come. I truly wish that I could have had a chance to tell her that although her twenties would have their share of ups and downs, things would work out and that she shouldn't be so hard on herself. I would tell her that turning 30 isn't scary at all.

It's not scary when you're surrounded by an amazing circle of friends, a loving family, your health and a sense of humor.