I Think I'll Take A Moment, Celebrate My Age...

It's my birthday!!!! Yes folks, today I turn 30 years young (at 10:23pm EST- think of me fondly). This is the part where I'm supposed to say something like, "Ewww gross, I'm getting SO old!" and then price out botox and face transplants, but so far there's been little to none of that. My mom has always set a great example for me by embracing her age year after year, so I'm really not too freaked out about it. It certainly helps that I'm one of the very last of my friends to be joining the dirty thirty club :)

Dirty Thirty Club

I had quite the celebration thrown for me Saturday night, and I have Kate & LC to thank for that. They pulled together a kick-ass party for me with the help of my family. I was really touched & amazed at the number of people who took the time to come by and celebrate with me, it was overwhelming. So a big thank you to my best friends and family for putting that all together. Each and every one of you will be remembered in my will, don't fight over my sweatpants collection.

Sisters/Party Planners

Just as Kate, LC & KC did around their birthdays, I've been thinking a lot about my 20s and what I learned. Being the close friends that we are, many of my life lessons were shared right along with these girls so they've pretty much been covered at this point. But here is what I would like to add...

Choose Your Own Adventure

Enjoying a lot of beer

First, how great were those books growing up??? My older sisters used to read them to me, but somehow no matter which choice I took I always died in a burning building. Suspect. Anyway... I wasted WAY too much time in my early twenties. I didn't always take the golden opportunities that were presented to me, afraid that they would lead me away from this pre-conceived life path I had in mind. Well, SPOILER ALERT, my life path was not what I thought it was going to be because nobody's ever is. The happiest I've been in life is when I chose my own adventure and went against what was "supposed" to be happening. Quitting a stable, well-paying corporate job to go back to nursing school in a struggling economy was like running into that burning building in all those books- everyone thought I was crazy and my hair always looks singed now. But that decision turned out even better then I could have imagined!!! Sure there are days where I still wish I had a regular 9-5 schedule and I certainly would like to not be carrying a book-bag around half the time, but in the end I know I'm going to end up in the career I was meant to be doing all along. And that puts a smile on my face.

Make Memories That Your Kids Will Want to Hear About

Perfect photo

Your 20s are the time in life that you can be a little (or a lot) selfish, particularly if you don't have kids yet. Now I'm not saying that I wouldn't love to have 14 adorable little Ms running around but since that isn't going to be happening anytime soon, I've been keeping busy experiencing things that will make my future children think I was a lot cooler these days than I actually am. So here's my advice: Go on a road trip with a broken GPS; Watch the sunrise and the sunset from the same spot one day; Take public transportation in a city where you don't speak the language; Drink margaritas for lunch; Go to a movie by yourself... and then sneak into another one for free; Buy a stranger a beer in a bar (NOT a cute one- they are boring); Teach yourself a new hobby- then you can blog about it!; Visit a city where you know no one and leave with a new best friend; Take someone to their first "event"- baseball game, symphony, rodeo, whatever; Gamble all the money you have in your wallet (just dont visit an ATM first); Learn to tango. I plan on continuing with these little adventures right on through to my 40s.

Keep Friendships With People Who'd Get On A Plane

3/4 Girlfiends

The most important relationships you'll have in life are with the people who'd "get on a plane" for you. When my dad passed away suddenly in August of 2006, KC changed a flight she had booked to Pittsburgh for that weekend and flew home to Harrisburg to be with me instead. I've thought about that a lot of the past 6 years and it really changed the effort I put forth in my valued friendships. I've realized how vitale it is to have a support system like that, to know that there are people you can call anytime of day and they'd pick up; to have friends who'd drive through the night to see you if you needed them during a bad break up; Friends who cry with you in the Arby's drive thru lane when it's silly and awkward but you're having a rough day; Friends who remember your dad's birthday and parent's anniversary every year by sending you a card; Friends who text you during finals week telling you they're proud of you; Friends who curse the day your ex was born (sex in the city style). I'm really lucky to have a core group of people like that in my life and even if we live thousands of miles apart I know they're just a plane ride away.

Learn To Take A Compliment

Ok, so this one I am still very much working on. I've never been good at taking compliments, in fact they sort of gross me out. But what I've thought about over and over recently is how often I catch myself putting me down. And it's not just me- all my closest friends do this too! We say stuff about our bodies or faces or whatever that we'd NEVER let one of our girlfriends say about themselves. And when I do this, I'm really insulting my parents. I mean, they worked super hard to set me up with a good gene pool and now I go around shooshing people who want to give them props for that??? Bad call Mindo. It's time I be an adult and accept me for me and embrace people who want to tell me all about it. So compliment away blog fans, I'll try not to cringe.

Love The One Your With

Family Style

The biggest blessing of my 20s is that the last thing I ever said to my dad was "I love you". I dropped him off at the airport for his trip to California on August 25th, 2006. On August 28th he passed away during his trip. When we got the news that my dad was gone, the first thing my mom asked me was did I hug him goodbye at the airport. Usually I'm not a morning person and (as usual) I was wearing sweatpants when I took him to HIA that day, but I'll never forget that I decided to hop out of the car at the last minute and hug my dad goodbye. I told him I loved him and he said the same... and reminded me to fill up the gas tank in his car on the way home. Since then, I never end a phone call with my mom without telling her I love her. I try to always tell my siblings too, but as anyone with a close family knows we talk A LOT and that can seem like overkill. More recently I started telling my friends that I love them. Even if they already know, you should always say it. Things change quickly in life, don't let the last thing you say to someone be just "goodbye".

So there you have it kids. The last words of wisdom from 20-something Mindy. She was a pretty smart gal, but I think 30-something Mindy is really going to out do her.

~M