I remember it like it was yesterday. On the eve of my mother’s 30th birthday I went to bed certain that the world was ending the very next day. My bedtime prayers reflected this certainty. I prayed that all would be forgiven for the time that I made fun of my best friend and for hating the fact that I was the only girl in my class who didn’t have those awesome, cool bell-bottom jeans. I prayed that all would be forgiven because the world was ending the very next day and I wanted to be sure that I was right with the good Lord up above. The next day dawned and well, although in my mother’s view the world had ended because that which she seemed to fear the most (in my eyes) had happened. Gawd almighty, she had turned thirty years old! It was then that I came to realize that it is really just a number and another year of life that has been lived. Another year that can be celebrated or that can be mourned. We get to choose. Mom chose to mourn with ashes and sack-cloth…it may as well have been with ashes and sack cloth because it sure felt like that for her kids. Like I said, we were certain that Armageddon was here.

Years later I turned 30 and well, I celebrated the heck out of that day. I finally felt like I had grown out of the awkwardness that was my youth. I had a really hot husband. I was settled and secure in the career of my dreams and I had two amazing, gorgeous daughters one of whom was only two weeks old. Thank goodness sweet baby Zoë had the sense to arrive three weeks before her actual due date so her mama could enjoy a toast of champagne to celebrate the awesomeness that was my thirtieth birthday. Year after year has flown by and I celebrate each and every blessed year. They are years where I am surrounded by so much to be thankful for.

Today a dear friend of mine is turning thirty. She’s gorgeous. She just got married last month to her super-hot man who worships her. She has an amazing successful business where she gets to do every day that which she is passionate about.  She is truly blessed. I know she is lamenting youth that is lost but my wish for her is that she will see the bigger picture. She is so much more than a number. We all are so much more than a number.

“The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits.” – Hervey Allen

Happy birthday my dear friend. May you celebrate just how amazing, talented, gorgeous and blessed you are today your thirtieth birthday and every second, every minute, every day, every year thereafter.