To start things off - here is a picture of a man who has just turned thirty...

→ Posted by: Tom Coates at July 15, 2002 1:32 AM

Well the pic's interesting, because if you were counting the silly years in the mode chinoise, you'd ALREADY be thirty (remember womb time?)

So dearest, what you can glean from this is just how little it all matters. Relativity will get you in the end. Go out and get laid for chrissakes ;-P

→ Posted by: Ian at July 15, 2002 2:12 AM

"If you haven't turned rebel by twenty you've got no heart; if you haven't turned establishment by thirty you've got no brains!" (Kevin Spacey)

'A poet more than thirty years old is simply an overgrown child.'
H.L. Mencken

→ Posted by: teddy at July 15, 2002 2:14 AM

ThirtyÅqthe promise of a decade of loneliness, a thinning list of single men to know, a thinning brief-case of enthusiasm, thinning hair. -- narrator Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby, ch. 7

Actually it's not that bad at all. It's like Christmas in a way: the drama is all in the build up, while the actual event isn't that big of a deal. And so far, my 30s have proven to be infinitely better than my 20s.

→ Posted by: dave at July 15, 2002 5:55 AM

My twenties were, in many ways, aspirational. I was still trying to construct the person I thought I wanted to be. Turning thirty, I abandoned the faux maturity and started acting like I damned well pleased. This was very liberating. I wouldn't go back.

→ Posted by: mike at July 15, 2002 10:55 AM

What the last guy said! As a symbolic threshold, it's a perfect opportunity to shed undesirable elements from your life and get on with it as you always meant to.

→ Posted by: g r e g at July 15, 2002 12:55 PM

The main thing I learned about turning thirty was to avoid bookshops. Bookshops. Avoid. Do not go to bookshops. Do not step inside bookshops. The reason? Well, the books, frankly. Specifically, the 3 for 2 sales. Browse through these particular piles of novels, and you will see title upon title of thirtysomething trash. I don't need to list the authors, because we all know them. These books are uniformly depressing - mostly because they feature people having supposedly crap post-thirty lives - but they're not! You read them and end up thinking, "Hey, cool life! Wish mine was like that!" And then you get drunk on very cheap vodka.

→ Posted by: Vaughan at July 15, 2002 3:46 PM

You can ask any one of my friends what I was like in the build up to last 4th May, my 30th b/day. I was saying more often than not that I was really looking forward to my thirties, that everything I had worked hard for during my twenties would make for an excellent foundation for everything I wanted to do in my thirties.

Now that I've been 30 for a couple of months, I can see personal changes occurring very gradually. I am shedding youthful pursuits that don't mean that much to me anymore. Related to that, I've even shed a couple of people whom I found myself normatively moving away from as we no longer have so much in common.

I'm enjoying myself, basically doing things that I want to do, defining who I am and will be for the next decade.

Good luck,

Buni

→ Posted by: Buni at July 15, 2002 4:45 PM

Here's a vintage {fray} story that may be of use: the big three-oh. There are quite a few posts to keep you busy, too....

→ Posted by: Derek M. Powazek at July 15, 2002 5:59 PM

two good things about turning 30:

1. you get to go through the spanking machine - a gauntlet-esque celebration where you crawl under everyone's legs (they're in a line) while they paddle the shit out of your bottom -- whooo big fun

2. noone can tell you "no" during the entire year (rolling calendar). I made this rule up myself, but i've insisted that my friends stick to it and so far it's working out, mainly because they're all younger and will be expecting to get their respective 'year of whiny demands' as well.

→ Posted by: matthew at July 15, 2002 7:35 PM

Celebrate it, man. When I turned 30 I threw myself a salon evening, and made my friends come and sing or recite or perform in some other way. They were all terrible, but I was impressed that they even tried. I performed too, and was possibly the worst of the lot, but dammit, I took the risk. Your thirties are about finally becoming the person you've always thought you could be but were afraid to reveal to your friends and family.

→ Posted by: chela at July 15, 2002 11:56 PM

Turning 30 two months after you (sept 19). Just split up with my girlfriend this weekend and about to move out of our flat. My job's getting easier by the week and I'm treading water and want to move on. There should be an opportunity to do so soon. I've just realised how many friends I have and how important they are to me, and not in a soppy, mournful way but because I think I've finally realised that I'm actually alive.

Bring it on.

→ Posted by: Pete at July 16, 2002 1:29 AM

I'll be 40 in September, and my 30s have been the best decade of my life: more in control; able to pick and choose which fashions and fads to throw myself into without worrying about getting it wrong; the people I've slept with have been more sorted, better at sex, and more fun to talk to before and after; plus my 30th birthday was the best ever - till my 37th (and I hope, my 40th).

I could do without the grey pubes and the two-day hangovers mind you...

→ Posted by: jon at July 17, 2002 2:04 PM

I turned 30 on Saturday 13th July. Best birthday I've had for a long time. I worried in a vague way about being 30 for a while before, feeling as though I *ought* be to worried about it, more than actually having a reason to worry. This is possibly connected to a relative who, at my 21st birthday ball, intoned in my ear, "Enjoy it while it lasts, because 30 comes awfully fast." Boy was she right - where did my twenties go? Now it's been and gone. Nothing has changed, I still don't have any wrinkles, I still drive too fast, I still swear too much and I'm still single. Rar. Bring on the thirties.

→ Posted by: lyssa at July 17, 2002 2:38 PM

You will *feel* more sorted, even if your life may not actually *be* any more sorted.

It's a strange sensation, but it works. Quite liberating.

→ Posted by: Graybo at July 18, 2002 4:25 PM

Tom,

I turned thirty last month, and took a long trip to New York and San Francisco to celebrate. It was great. It felt more like a coming of age than my 18th or 21st birthdays... One thing I have noticed, which shows itself in several different ways, is to do with feeling more positive and less stressed... more capable, almost. The time leading up to it was a little stressful, in terms of assessing 'how well I'd done' so far... now it's over, it feels good (and so far, better than being a twentysomething). Sorted.

→ Posted by: Steven at July 18, 2002 7:50 PM

I remember my thirtieth birthday (sorta)
I remember my fortieth birthday.
And I remember my fiftieth birthday, too.

With each one, I moved further away from the urge to stamp my feet, throw myself on the carpet and scream ..."but it's so unfair."

And nearer to appreciating that the more living I do, the more I find out about myself and what makes me special.

Now I look back on my thirtieth birthday and wonder "just what was I celebrating exactly?"

→ Posted by: ian (blogadoon) at July 19, 2002 5:26 AM

Oh yeah, happy birthday.

→ Posted by: steven at July 19, 2002 7:18 AM

Happy Three-Oh Birthday Tom.

→ Posted by: Pei at July 19, 2002 12:24 PM

I've been 30 for almost a whole year now (31 on July 28th!). The actual birthday had me stressed because I felt like I had wasted the last half of my 20's doing whatever I wanted, with the intent to "someday" be doing something "real." Whilst friends got married and had babies, I was still dating my now husband. It all felt like I had years to go before having to start being a "real grown-up." Then...BANG!...30! It made me wonder what the hell I thought I was doing with my life. As the months after the birthday ticked by the stress lessened, but for the first time I have the sense that if I'm planning to do something, I better start now. I finally (after 7 years) married the boyfriend, but as far as career (not sure) and family (not yet) go, I'm still working on it. So hopefully the advice of some of the older people that posted here, is correct; that your 30's are much better. At least, maybe people will stop treating me like someone right out of Uni that couldn't possibly know what she's talking about.

→ Posted by: Jules at July 19, 2002 4:55 PM

30. Thank god. You don't worry so much, you don't care so much. You don't have to pretend so much or try so hard. You might start looking after your skin a little better and it will probably take you longer to recover from a night in the pub.

→ Posted by: Joanne at July 22, 2002 12:25 PM

I turned 30 eight months ago. I'd rather be 20.

→ Posted by: Jerwin at July 23, 2002 1:54 AM

I turned thirty on the 24th of July - I took a pill or two and ended up thinking I was James Brown and danced till dawn.

But how does it feel? Give me a few months and i'll let you know

→ Posted by: Nick at July 29, 2002 3:15 PM

Its when I realised that people who looked really old to me felt more or less the same as they always had inside, and that the same thing had low and behold happened to me. And that maybe I was never going to "arrive" at that grown up life I was expecting, so I may as well stop worrying about trivial stuff and enjoy life. Oh yeah - and if I worry about trivial stuff, that's just me so I don't mind too much.

→ Posted by: Lissa at July 29, 2002 6:33 PM

There's no need to attribute any significance to turning 30 at all if you don't want to.

For example, you must have come across one of those terminally pedantic people a couple of years ago who insisted that the new millenium didn't actually start until 2001. Same thing here: you're actually in the last year of your twenties.

What's more, with advances in nutrition and medical research in the West, life expectancy is on the whole about 15 years longer than it was a generation ago. So in terms of emotional and personal development, you're entitled to push things out proportionally, which means you've effectively only just turned 23 and a half.

→ Posted by: tim at July 30, 2002 3:14 AM

When I turned 30 I experienced two things which I'd not had before. A birthday cake, infact several, and a birthday party....see URL....

→ Posted by: Riley at July 30, 2002 1:25 PM

I'm just 33 and I cannot remember anything about my thirtieth birthday. Not how I celebrated, not what I received, not what I even thought about it. But I had already had my first child by then and all my anxiety about getting responsible and being biologically beside-the-point were taken care of when I became a parent.

→ Posted by: Sarah Heidt at July 31, 2002 7:53 AM

I'm thirty. come to my party.

→ Posted by: dorian at July 31, 2002 2:01 PM

On the day I turned thirty, I found out my boss (who'd been ill in hospital with something brain-related) was unlikely to be returning, so I needed to take over trying to run things. So in a very real sense I had responsibility thrust upon me on that very day. Which I responded to by getting riotously pissed.

I think it's an illusion though - at around late-28, you start turning all that experience into wisdom and become less of a nob. At 30, you kind of know you're still going through that stage and have a bit of room to manouvre.

At 32, that's it, you're stuck that way forever. That's when you should have a party with the few friends who are still prepared to tolerate you...

→ Posted by: Tom Dolan at August 4, 2002 3:21 PM

I was 30 this May. It ended up being a very low-key affair. A couple of friends came around that night, but that was just a co-incidence because it was the only night that was free. We watched Cecil B Demented and had pizza.

I wasn't bothered by being 30 at all. I've achieved what I want to achieve in my 20s, but I was starting to feel like I'd overstayed my welcome as a 20-something anyway.

I read somewhere that by 30 people's personalities are pretty much stabilised. And I hope that's the key to being 30 - stability.

→ Posted by: Paul B at August 9, 2002 2:08 PM

I turned 30 on March 26. Mainly I remember crying in the car and being frustrated with myself for not keeping tissue in the car. I remember my father's 30th birthday. He would have had soemthing in his car to wipe his eyes and blow his nose with, not that he would have ever sat in his car crying.

→ Posted by: Shannon at August 9, 2002 11:04 PM

Turned thirty last Monday. Can't think of anything to say about it at the moment. I'll think of something while I'm on the treadmill at the gym I joined last Tuesday.

→ Posted by: Christian at August 15, 2002 10:35 AM

I turned 30 on August 8th. I kept looking in the mirror expecting to look or feel dramatically different as people said I would but the same reflection looked back at me. The one thing that I've thought about more, in my 20's I always said I'd have kids when I was 30, now that's here I'm just not sure any more.

→ Posted by: jeanie at August 23, 2002 10:44 AM

I went off the rails a bit the year I turned 30, but it was 2000, so I think it was some sort of Millenium-related weirdness. No actually I think it was just a reaction to realising I wasn't where I thought I'd be at 30. So I went a bit mad, drank far too much and eventually came down and sorted my head out. Now I have some direction and know who I am and think your 30's are way better than your angsty 20's.

→ Posted by: Vicky at August 23, 2002 7:18 PM

When I was 30 I had a huge party and invited everybody I've ever known (about half came). I got so drunk on cocktails that I forgot about being 30 aand had an excellent time. It was so good, I did it this year when Iwas 31.

→ Posted by: Fiona at August 28, 2002 4:08 PM

I forgot...

→ Posted by: Crisp at September 2, 2002 3:19 PM

I can't even remember when I turned 30, that's how unimportant it is now. I turned 50 last year and that's pretty mind-boggling. The important thing is to live each day, and not to be bound by arbitary limits such as age and your perceptions of it. Geologically speaking, if you are alive, you are young.

→ Posted by: bobbieeeee at September 10, 2002 7:03 PM

I can't even remember when I turned 30, that's how unimportant it is now. I turned 50 last year and that's pretty mind-boggling. The important thing is to live each day, and not to be bound by arbitary limits such as age and your perceptions of it. Geologically speaking, if you are alive, you are young.

→ Posted by: bobbieeeee at September 10, 2002 7:03 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Today's my birthday too (September 19, 1972)! I woke up at midnight and started a mural in my hallway of the story of my life (up until now). It occured to me I have a long life ahead of me and not much wall space. Life is good. And from what all the 30 somethings I know - it only gets better.

→ Posted by: Lori at September 19, 2002 10:42 PM

In 45 days I'll finally be 30. I've been waiting for this day since I was in my teens. Back then I hated not being taken seriously just because of my age and I wondered at what age I would stop feeling like a child playing at being a grown up. I chose 30 for some reason. I don't expect my 30th year to fix things or for people to magically start treating me differently. I'm just happy that the 14 year old in me finally gets what she's wanted for so long.

→ Posted by: patricia at January 19, 2003 2:23 AM

Well... I am about to turn 30, in 3 days exactly. I have been talking about it for the last 6 months as a great thing I wanted to celebrate like you'd celebrate a great event. However, the closer I was coming to the date, the harder it was for me to become concrete about it, not because I gave up on the idea but I was wondering what exactly I wanted to celebrate. Myself? The achievements of my first three decades?
Well, they are not great so far. My life is just as normal as anyone else. After more thoughts, trying to be less morose, and less egocentric I found a reason to celebrate it: My friends and my wonderful boyfriend. I have achieved at 30, love, friendship, trust and consistency. They are so important to me and I don’t know where I would be without them. So that’s what I am going to celebrate with them!

→ Posted by: Agnes from Marseille at March 31, 2004 9:30 AM

I turn 30 in 11 days. I will most likely get bombed, like I have done on all of my birthdays since I turned 16. Oh well, I guess some things will never change. Except, I now am married and have a real job. As long as I don't turn into those self absorbed idiots on the show "Thirtysomething", I will be able to make it to 40.

→ Posted by: jim at March 29, 2005 10:35 PM

I am turning thirty in three days. Personally, I can't wait. My 20's pretty much sucked. My life started going downhill at 19 and did not start to rebound until 28 or so. Thirty is a new decade. I can try to make this one better.

→ Posted by: Sue at April 20, 2005 4:56 AM

I will be 30 in 15 days. I think my twenties pretty much blew. I never really knew what I wanted or WHO I WAS...hell I'm still not sure what I wanna do but I am getting a much better perspective. I am feeling this tremendous pressure to have a baby and I guess all that crap about a "biological clock" is true.I feel like if I wait too much longer it will be too late. But generally I am looking forward to my next decade. I'll write again and tell you how it feels.

→ Posted by: Shannon at September 8, 2005 8:50 AM

The big 3-0 is coming up in less than 2 months and I'm wondering how to celebrate it. Well, on the actual day I'm going to see U2, which I'm very excited about, but since it's on a Monday I want to celebrate that weekend. I'm single, in nonprofit so don't have a ton of cash flow, but really would like to do something different to bring in the thirties - any suggestions? I'm trying not to get too worked up about it, because in the grand scheme of things it's a not a huge deal and it really is a good thing. I've done a lot in my twenties sans getting married and children, but still I've accomplished a good deal. Sure I still don't know exactly what I want to do when I grow up, and it gets frustrating at times, but it also makes life interesting. But really, I would love to hear how folks celebrated their 30th.

→ Posted by: Amy at October 20, 2005 12:16 AM

I'm turning thirty tomorrow and really acting my age by riding rollercoasters all day long with all the family and friends I can drag along. I think I'm just going to be proud of getting this far.

→ Posted by: Kirsty at October 27, 2005 8:31 PM

One of the things that I have noticed is that you don't have many bad hair days any more.
You have bad head days.....

→ Posted by: Mark at December 2, 2005 2:56 AM

so, i'm turning 30 in 8 days. i'm not sure what the big scare is all about, it's almost as though people change their perspective of you when you turn 30 and they would never think of looking at a single 30 year old woman, but they don't mind the 29 year old ones. nothing makes me happier to know that i'm going to be 30 and i've managed to raise my son thus far without really causing any permanant damage to him....there are many things im greatful for and he is one of them. i guess you could say i just get to do everything everyone else did in their 20's while i'm 30 and guess what it works better at this age cause im not so immature to handle the stress of it all, school, kids and work all in one. really i would just love to know, am i gonna turn green or something on that ohhh sooo wonderful day? to leave you with something to remember!!!! IT TOOK ME 30 YEARS TO LOOK THIS GOOD.... hehehehehe

→ Posted by: jo at December 9, 2005 1:14 AM

I turn 30 in about 36 minutes. I was feeling a little anxious about it until this evening when driving back in rush hour traffic and realized like a college exam, it was inevitable. I read the rest of the posts and I sincerely hope my 30's are better than my 20's, not that my 20's were bad. Things turned out better than I expected them to so I'm hoping "this is NOT as good as it gets"!

→ Posted by: Suki at December 16, 2005 4:25 AM

I AM THIRTY TODAY ! So far it feels brilliant, I do not look or feel any older so that is a big phew. The ten years ahead should be even more exciting than the last ten,as I now know what I really want and over my twenties I built up through trial and error the life skills to get it ! Life and any age is a challenge and a reward and worrying just causes problems where there probably weren't any.

→ Posted by: Jessica at January 9, 2006 10:24 AM

I'm not worried about the big 30 (this march) now that i've read the comments.What did confuse me though was that i got asked for i.d at a wine bar just last week.although,at the time, i was gob smacked and slightly cross,now i realise that it's a good thing and I'm lucky that I look 17 years old at 30!!!!!

→ Posted by: Tracey at January 10, 2006 8:53 PM

I have officially started the hourly countdown to my 30th birthday. I have read the posts on this website, in hopes of making me feel better about gracefully exiting my 20s. I can't say that the words or advice really helped, nor did it hurt. Everyone has come from different backgrounds socially, economically, and spiritually. Some of the posters are married with kids, some are single, and some are evidently closing in on retirement. I personally am not married, I don’t have kids, and I am still living the lifestyle of a bachelor that makes enough money to do what he wants in life.

The age of 30 is trivial as far as time is concerned. I don’t expect some epiphany to strike and grant me unforeseen knowledge and wisdom. I think that the reason that ‘30 years old’ seems significant is that we have preconceived notions from our childhood about what we were going to grow up to be and what we would be doing throughout adulthood. I know that I was going to be married to Wonder Woman, have made millions (somehow), and drive an exotic sports car. I don’t have millions, Wonder Woman turned out to be a myth, and I can’t haul my dog in a sports car. I think that exiting ones 20s is a time of reflection and that the changes that some people experience are a refocus toward goals not yet achieved or the creation of new goals as we realize the old ones were not what would bring us happiness.

Realistically, being 30+ will be whatever I decide to make of it. I will admit that I will wholeheartedly miss my 20s. There is something special about living with reckless abandon. I enjoyed throwing myself into and out of relationships. I enjoyed not spending my days in an office. And I enjoyed the reduced level of responsibility that was a luxury of my high school and college years. Unfortunately for all of us 30 year olds, those days are gone. I just hope that the years ahead will be full of new challenges that keep me entertained and that I don’t develop a huge bingo, wood whittling, or yelling at the noisy neighbor kids’ habit for a few more years.

→ Posted by: Delward at January 12, 2006 12:33 AM

Well, I have 13 days left to go until my 30th...to be honest, I'm rather excited to leave my 20's. Do I think it's going to be a life changing event? No. Do I think i'll personally change because of the age? No. I'm sure there will be certain aspects of my life that I'll look at more closely and want specific things to happen (read: possibly a relationship, more respect at my job, save more money, etc etc). I'm looking forward to my 30th for a couple reasons--one, to have a party with my friends, and two, I get to go to Costa Rica with my best friend. So really, what could be depressing about turning 30? Of course, this is today, March 31...ask me again on April 13 and i might have a completely different answer!

→ Posted by: Lindsay at March 31, 2006 3:09 PM

i was just thinking about my birthday which i've been anticipating for several months. it's not for 7 more months, but i've been thinking of some symbolic gesture to mark the day.

i've thought about writing something about the important things i've learned and experienced in my twenties. i've thought about shaving my head. i know i want to take a trip, alone.

i'm very excited about my thirties.

→ Posted by: paula at April 1, 2006 4:41 AM

i was just thinking about my birthday which i've been anticipating for several months. it's not for 7 more months, but i've been thinking of some symbolic gesture to mark the day.

i've thought about writing something about the important things i've learned and experienced in my twenties. i've thought about shaving my head. i know i want to take a trip, alone.

i'm very excited about my thirties.

→ Posted by: paula at April 1, 2006 4:41 AM

I was looking online for "things to do for your thirtieth birthday" and to tell you the truth, I had trouble spelling "thirtieth". I turn 30 in 5 days and I am not sure how I feel about it. Do I make a big deal and party like its 1999, or do I just say psssst...30...whatever? The only thing that makes me feel good about my thirties are the chicks from Sex and the City. They were all in their mid-thirties (or older) single and still having fun. It may not be reality, but I can still be hopeful. I mean really, does the party have to stop at 30? What are the rules? How much do I really have to grow-up? How much can I get away with before I am consider immature? Do I have to start wearing pantyhose in the summer? Do I have to buy gas before the gas light comes on? Do I have to pay my bills before I get a shut-off notice? Do I have to start drinking Cosmos instead of Coronas? Can someone please tell me so that I won't make a complete fool of myself when I join the "30 club".

→ Posted by: Trina at April 3, 2006 8:16 PM

I turn 30 in 2 days, I am single, happy and very thankful that it is cool right now for younger men to date older women (thank you Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake).

→ Posted by: Jennifer at April 25, 2006 2:01 AM

I first read The Great Gatsby at 17, and that quote someone posted above stuck with me all these years. I was not extatic about turning 30 today, but I certainly feel better now that I've read the posts here...
But it is for the better--my life pretty much sucked since 14, and only now starting to get better. I now have long term goals, I know where I am heading, and who I will become. I have something to look forward to.
I am discovering that I now have enough brains to date 18 year olds, and I am thankfull to all the older women that I used to date in my twenties for giving me the intellect...
But somehow, the idea of turning 40 bothers me less than turning 30... except for grey pubes and two day hangovers.
I think I will get plastered today.

→ Posted by: Alex at May 22, 2006 10:08 PM

Hey, I turn 30 in September and I want to thank you all!! I ver read all the comments and I'm starting to realise that its not the life-ending moment I've been thinking it was.... I still however need to think of a cool way to celebrate it!

→ Posted by: jane at June 1, 2006 1:13 PM

I turn 30 in 2 weeks. I'm anxious, and sort of just want to get it over with. I live in a college town, and everybody over 30 seems old, so I'm not too excited about it. Although, I do feel more accepting of who I am, and like the power that seems to come with age, being able to say and do what you feel and not care what others say. To celebrate at first I wanted to go to Atlanta and got sloshed, but then I realized I want to do something different and fun that doesn't involve a hangover. My girlfriends and I are going kayaking Saturday...and then we plan on getting hammered without the boys. Something about 30 makes you want to spend it with the girls. We'll eat Mexican and drink Margaritas on the actual Monday, and maybe bring the boys along that day since I have to work Tuesday. I feel alive and free to be who I am. That is the most exciting thing about entering my 30s-just enjoying life.

→ Posted by: pepstar at July 25, 2006 1:03 AM

I am 30 in one week exactly. I have had a feeling of forboding about it for the past few months, mostly because I thought I'd 'know' more by now. In my 20s I thought I'd change and become a 'grown up' magically at some point in my late 20s.
Now I have a responsible career, my own home and good friends, but I don't feel sorted and feel that I'm looking for something I'm not going to find(because I don't know what it is!) I split up with the man I was to marry late last year, so this hasn't really helped I suppose, but then again, sex in my 30s is seeming like an adventure I'm looking forward to...

→ Posted by: Audioslave at August 1, 2006 7:07 PM

Hey, I'll be 30 in October. It's funny I am fine with it. I feel like 29 has been a great year for lessons learned, but sitting here today I realize I haven't accomplished everything, but I am on my way.

I have alot of dreams and alot of guts, but I also have alot of building to do.

I am in a mode where I just want to introvert (TOTALLY out of character) for a while to just focus on my business and saving money to buy some property. But I also feel like I have to do something big for my birthday...I don't right...?

Thank you for the post...they were great and really let me see that it's a great time for change, but not really life changing!

→ Posted by: Anitra at August 4, 2006 7:46 PM

Turned 31 15min ago... it feels... nah! fine!!! I got lots to do before the day ends, mostly I would like to do these things myself, on my own.
I would love these new decade just started will be when I become rich, happy and in passionate-love!

→ Posted by: ishtarlis at August 20, 2006 4:35 AM

HMMMMMM.
So I am on here searching for something memorable to do for my 30th! I think I will regret it if I don't celebrate!! I too think spending it with a bunch of girlfriends is a fun way to do it(I think) I dont know where to go or what to do that I have not already done,then I stop to think Sh*t if that is what I am bitching about even if I dont do anything It wont be that bad and I can always turn 30 again next October if I feel like I missed out on something. I am just lost on how to get the energy up to plan something that everyone involved will enjoy and remember too! And I am in the middle of a relationship that is either going to the next level or ending here so that too is adding a bit of ick to the entire "BIG 30th" I never thought I would be Single,No kids and doing it all on my own but hey thats good to I guess? I would love to hear how you all think 30th should be spent or not spent or anything for that matter ">)
Best Wishes to all
Melis

→ Posted by: melissa at August 31, 2006 5:36 PM

I dont think you have to be any different in your 30's than you were in your 20's or even teens if you don't want to. I will be 32 my birthday (October 15) I still have that rebellious/anti authority anti establishment streak running wild within my veins. I still listen to Metal music and I still wear Heavy Metal tshirts jeans and sneakers when i am not at work. I have no kids and am not married. I don't think it is as big of a deal as people make it out to be. If my thinking is wrong so be it but that is who I am and who I will always be. If not hey cool, whatever

→ Posted by: Tricia at September 4, 2006 6:31 AM

well im 30 on friday
cant believe it
sounds so old
but iv been married for 9 years and got 2 kids so i suppose iv done alot
just wondered if any of you have any ideas what i can do to celebrate!!

→ Posted by: amanda at September 20, 2006 6:13 PM

I am 30 at the end of this month. I am dreading the event, but I dont know why; and looking forward to my thirties.

When I was 20 I thought 'by the time I'm 30 I'll have it all figured out'; now I'm nearly 30 it feels like my 20's were chaotic and unplanned, and that my 30's will be that consolidation time - in reality I think we spend our whole lives changing, and becoming less and less interested in what other people think about us because we become more comfortable with ourselves; no wonder old people are so stubborn!

Celebration-wise part of me wants to do something wild - I never party anymore (mainly because I'm not a good drinker but I do love to dance. My husband was planning a party but the organising never really got off the ground so I guess thats off; but we are going to a posh expensive spa hotel where there will definately not be any disco music...I guess thats a civilised 'we've got money now' kind of way to spend a 30th birthday and at least I can make some headway on the wrinkles and cellulite while I'm there...Mmmmm.

→ Posted by: Michelle at October 11, 2006 12:01 AM

I turn 30 in 7 months, and I'm certainly not looking forward to it. I feel like I have 7 months to get everything together - that way, when the big 30 hits I'll look like a stable and settled member of the human race (at least to the outside world).

The funny thing is that at this stage in my life, when I've just gotten married and chucked one career to go back to school for another, I feel anything but settled. Luckily I graduate from school just before I turn 30! Why do we insist on putting arbitrary deadlines on our life?

→ Posted by: Loren at January 13, 2007 3:16 PM

What is it about this thirty thing? Is it really so arbitrary? I don't think it has to do with the number but i think there is definitely something happening to humans about this time in their individual lives. It is a time when we tend to question our priorities, reassess them, let go of aspects of ourselves that no longer work for us, and look forward to defining our lives exactly as we want them.
I turn 30 in less than a week and the build-up has been excruciating. I just want the day to disappear, I want to escape and be distracted from it being my birthday. I do not want to celebrate. I'll save that for 31. Someone suggested to me i am going through my "Saturn Return". It's an astrological thingy. I googled it and to my surprise it fit the bill for me. My life has been in upheaval.. Career uncertainty, ending a 4-year relationship, the list goes on. all this with a base of anxiety in the looming thought of my thirtieth? Why am I taking this so hard? I honestly think the day after my birthday I will start to fell sane again!

→ Posted by: Sallie at January 22, 2007 3:07 AM

I turn 30 in 11 hours 14 mins and i'm quite anxious. I have those feelings of 'where did i think i would be now' and i'm not entirelyhappy with the results. I have all sorts of questions in my head about what i want and what i've achieved, it's driving me nuts. I'll sink a few margaritas with friends tomorrow and hopefully all will be fine and the world won't stop turning.

→ Posted by: sam at January 23, 2007 12:46 PM

You can tell when we're approaching 30....we all start looking for these wesites! What's it like, what did people do, how should I celebrate it! I'm turning thirty at the end of this month and quite frankly, keeping my head up about it! I drifted through my twenties, left uni and did a few long stints with companies totally unrelated to my qualifications! Not knowing what I wanted from life, time just passing by rather quickly, my friends were all buying new cars, houses, having babies! I felt a little behind with my life through my twenties. As I approach thirty my life is becoming clearer, I have a beautiful girlfriend who I live with, we've started our own creative company, a job at last making use of my qualifications and interests!!! And we're talking about buying a place in the future. I've found a clothes shop other than Next that I like! And I'm becoming more relaxed. When I say more relaxed I mean when I go for a drink with my mates the music should be low, the beer cheap with available comfy wing back chairs, preferably next to an open log fire. I'll be home by 10.30pm with a cup of coco, and a nice pair of warm slippers! In reality I won't remember my 30th! I don't care what I do as long as I'm with all my good friends having a great time. I'll be drunk, they'll be drunk, we'll think we can still dance and mosh to teen spirit, and still get away with stealing road cones and branded beer glasses. I'll probably see how many shot glasses my other half can fit into her handbag. Later I'll srip down and be wearing nothing but an oven glove strapped to my nether regions, and betting my mate I'll give him a race and see who can run up the high street furthest before getting arrested! There's no escaping it, just celebrate it with your friends and family!!!

→ Posted by: michael at April 8, 2007 9:33 AM

Well, I've been trying to figure out how to celebrate my 30th on Saturday--my b-day is 07-07-07 so I sort of feel some extra responsibility to do something spectacular. I actually feel mellow with the whole 30 idea, it's just the hype of everyone asking what I'm going to do. I'm pretty settled on having champagne and cake at the top of a mountain at sunset with my husband of a year...of course that means I'd be going 'over the hill'...in the dark...hmm.

→ Posted by: julie at July 3, 2007 8:31 PM

Hi TOM...It's been 6 years from the day you turned 30.I'd like to know where are you and what are you doing now? My 30th birthday in in 4 days JAN 25/08 and I am feeling ....I dont know even know how I feel,I am a little upset!! It's different form my other birthdays.Probably I'll look back in a few years and I laugh at myself, but now I need some ideas form 30+ people.

→ Posted by: MARYAM at January 22, 2008 4:24 PM

I turn 30 in 35 days and i have mixed emotions about it, on one hand i dont care but on the other i want to celebrate it with a bang.

I have been married for nearly 7 years with two beautiful young daughters, i have travelled to UK, Scotland, New Zealand, Amsterdam and America (I live in OZ). I have done heaps i should be proud of my 20's and be looking forward to all the oportunities that i will have in my 30's. Most people i know have only travelled within Australia, where i have had the experience to branch out; i have been very lucky.

I don't know where i expected to be when i reached 30, married with kids i suppose of which i have; but its that feeling of being old. i used to think guys of 25 were old and yucky, since i will be considered early 30's soon does that make me old and yucky.....

I wanted to hire a holiday house by the river for the weekend but the price and the possible cold weather is making it a prime candidate for the "Too hard basket"; Everyone goes out for tea for their birthday i wanted to do something different.

I cant remember my 16th or my 18th Birthday and they were milestone birthdays too, my 21st i went out for tea with a group of friends (wow, what a original idea..lol) With my 16th,18th and 21st birthday i did get drunk, but i dont care about getting drunk anymore; and that alone makes me feel old. I think i will continue to Google 30th birthday ideas, i cant settle for going out for tea; its something different or nothing at all..........

→ Posted by: Beltane at April 3, 2008 2:06 AM

I have 9 days left of my 20's. Even though it feels like they ended about five years ago, I feel so sad to see them go... for good. I've always been one that looks forward to the future, but I can't help but think that I'm not ready to move forward yet. So much lies behind me and there is still so much that seems out of reach.

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this blog since 2002. You've bummed me out and given me hope all at the same time. I hope to come back here one day with great feedback for those individuals, who like myself, are sad to say goodbye to yesterday.

I've have a neighbor who turned 93 this year. Apparently time flies!

→ Posted by: annie at June 1, 2008 10:08 AM