Thirty

            I never thought I would be the person to get SAD about turning 30. I have always looked down on those people like why are they sad it’s not a big deal, little did I know in due time I would find out why. Leaving your twenties is a BIG deal, it's even bigger when you realize you're life looks different than it’s “supposed” to at THIRTY. You see I don't have the things society tells me I should by thirty. I don't have a husband, kids, or a mortgage. I'm single, responsible for only myself, and that’s right I’m a renter. Let's be honest here... I'm willing to talk about all the things that nobody puts a voice to. Married women and pregnant woman have spoken out about the things they wish they had known, so here I am to express the joys of turning THIRTY, that’s right I said JOYS.

            When this milestone hits you in the face suddenly there’s a knee jerk reaction to hone in on the things you think you “should” have instead of being pumped to celebrate another birthday and everyone knows I LOVE birthdays. It suddenly becomes easy to get sad and overwhelmed when faced with what THIRTY should look like. Based on social norms and what society says I don't seem to have it together. Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t it the single thirty year olds and up who everyone starts saying, “oh they are single and thirty they must have issues or can’t commit, keep looking.” I don’t want to be deemed as that person. I take pride in the fact that I have really taken this time to discover ME.
            Here are the things I have accomplished by thirty. I have traveled to 13 countries and something like 24 states in the US. I have worked with HIV/AIDS orphans and their families; I obtained my bachelors in Nursing, got my dream job as an ER nurse. I have the world’s greatest friends who champion me so well who fully see and know me. So why do I suddenly forget these major achievements because I feel embarrassed to be single, no kids, a renter and almost thirty. I started getting down on myself about my life instead of realizing I have stopped at nothing to achieve my dreams in life. There's so much to look back on and see that I have persevered through many trials and came out on top. I wasn’t happy before about not being married yet which was and is sometimes still is a sore spot. It was recently that I stepped into being happy that I have had time to better myself so that when I do meet that man it will be that much better. I know who I am and have taken time to discover the challenges of bills, renting, friendships, family and how to mange these things so that when I take the leap into marriage I can focus on just that… being married. I have had the opportunity to grow in so many ways as a single woman that only better me for my future and for my future spouse. These social norms have so screwed our ideas of success and life, but I'm here to break the silence.

Let me remind you of these key things we tend to forget:

            You are amazing. Your life is valuable no matter single, married, divorced, or widowed. If you have you're dream job or are still working towards your goals don’t stop. It's time to change this narrow view of what we think should verses what actually does formulate happiness. Never stop pressing forward. Realize that every day is a new day worth living to the fullest. Life is so much more than status. Life is worth living happy and fulfilled not wasting time thinking about what we think we should have. I’m not saying many of those things are not a desire because they are but it's not something to waste time being sad about. Married or single, well paying job, fancy cars, and having nice things are not what define you. Everything has its appropriate time and it looks different for everyone. We have to stop with the assumption of what ones life should look like and in the time frame we think it should look that way. All our lives matter and if we all looked the same wouldn’t that make life a little less interesting. Go after what makes you happy. Fulfill your dreams and don’t let what other people think your life should look like stop you from becoming fully YOU.

            I'm Brooke Sparks, I’m almost THIRTY and I'm breaking the mold.

Xx Brooke