I’ll be 30 in less than 30 days. Eeep.

I’ve joked before that I’ve been 30 since I was 8, as a friend once said about me. Strangely, over the last few years, I feel that I’ve gotten younger. Not necessarily less mature, mind you, but just into a younger, happier frame of mind. I’m fine with that.

Now, that said, I made a list of 30 things I wanted to do before I hit 30. Not many of them got crossed off the list, but that’s okay. A large reason I started that list was to motivate myself to live a little more fully, try new things, and push myself a little. I feel that I’ve done that, and I’m tremendously pleased with all I’ve done this year.

However, I also feel like I should go do something utterly ridiculous “while I’m still in my 20s.” Right. This from the woman who is staying home on a Friday night while there’s a freaking music festival downtown she could be attending if she weren’t so tired.

At any rate, rather than focus on what I didn’t accomplish, let me toot my loverly little horn here and think about what I did get done before I turned 30.

1. Ran a business (straight into the ground).
Talk about a learning experience. Some of the best and worst times of my life revolved around that store.

2. Went to college. Survived an atypical undergraduate experience.
Huzzah.

3. Earned my Master’s.
I wish I’d done even more, but I’m still pretty proud that I did that. I hope to one day get my PhD, but not quite yet.

4. Discovered therapy.
Now I just have to find another therapist…

5-10. Started taking care of my body.
In 2006, I lost about 30 pounds, beginning with a stress-induced illness. In 2007, I started working out a little and going back to dance classes. I discovered pole fitness, which changed my ideas about what my body can do as well as my body image. In 2008, I joined a gym. I quit smoking. In 2010, I joined a gym with the mister. I also tried aerial silks and bellydance, which I adore. Since April of 2011, I have lost ten pounds and am at my lowest adult weight. I have a pole in my house now so I can work out even on days I don’t get to the gym (which happens much more than I’d like). I have started taking MELT classes, which make my body feel SO GOOD. I tried yoga for the first time a couple months ago. I have my lazy weeks, but for the most part, I’m staying active.

11. Started paying attention to what I eat.
In 2005, I became a mostly-vegetarian and cut down significantly on dairy. I still swing back and forth between omnivore and vegetarian. In the last two years, I’ve made a conscious effort to cut back on consuming added sugar. This year I’ve worked to curb my wheat consumption as well.

12. Got my dream job.
I’m one of the lucky few who figured out what they wanted to do, trained for it, worked for it, and managed to be doing it before 30. I know I’m lucky. Not a day goes by that I don’t realize how wonderful my job is — even the days that are rough.

13. Learned to sew.
I made a dress! Even more importantly, I was reminded how hard it is for people to learn skills not intuitive to them. This makes me a better teacher.

14. Began traveling.
I’ve now seen half our country’s states. I’m working on overcoming my fear of flying alone, which I have to do by, oh, November.

15. Worked on a publication.
I wanted to be published by 30. My girl A. is helping that happen, not how I planned, but in an even more awesome way. Yay.

16. Figured out what’s important in life.
Hint: It’s not working all the time.

17. Figured out who I am and went back and got myself from where I last left her.
Nuff said.

18. Slowed down on daydreaming and sped up on doing.
I highly recommend it.

19. Worked on overcoming Imposter Syndrome.
I don’t know if I’ll ever totally get over it.

Hmmm… you know, as much as I’m “okay” with aging, I can’t bring myself to make a list of goals for 35 or 40. Once I get comfy with the new decade, we’ll revisit this.

*Addendum: Mr. B was a bit miffed that “meeting, falling in love with and moving in with the man of my dreams” didn’t make the list. I told him I didn’t want to call our relationship an accomplishment, because I don’t believe that a relationship is on the “must have” list or that it should necessarily be a goal. That said, it is one of the best things that has happened (see that — not an accomplishment — a happening). That better, honey?