30 Observations On Turning 30

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Last week, it was my birthday. And I wasn’t where I’d planned to be, because I was no longer with whom I’d planned to be with (hence hopping over the water for a while). But the best of it was made for me, with a handmade surprise mad hatter’s birthday breakfast tea party (just amazing – pics below!) and then a trip to a beautiful winery for a delicious, long lunch with much wine. My friend here has taken cheering me to heart and single-handedly saved what otherwise could have been a day of sorrowing. I also received several touching presents and cards that lifted my heart.

I’ve never been down around my birthday. I love to celebrate, and a number’s just a number after all! When I think of some of the things that have happened by the time I’ve turned this one: releasing myself from an occupation of reluctant accounting, starting my own business, travelling the world, publishing my own book, meeting the people I’ve met and seeing the sights that I’ve seen – I can say I’m happy with how I’ve got here.

So, to celebrate having turned thirty, here’s a list of thirty observations I’ve had upon doing so, in the order that they came to me.

1. Who doesn’t love a list?

2. Don’t heed the snake within (& that’s a sneak peek quote from my current NaNoWriMo work in progress, fantasy novel Luminosa).

3. If it is at all possible, find something in any given situation to laugh at.

4. It’s always tea time.

5. ‘Tis better to catch on late than never.

6. Smile at everyone and see what happens.

7. Patience is a virtue, but the really, really hard-to-find kind.

8. No matter how low you feel, someone’s suffering more in Game of Thrones.

9. Persevere.

10. See beauty everywhere you look.

11. I love books. But I can appreciate the Kindle.

12. Friends are treasures; guard them.

13. If something’s not okay, try and try and try to make it better.

14. It is better to love.

15. Never take a good shower for granted.

16. Be bold.

17. You can move all over the place, but it’s where you’re at inside that matters.

18. Say what you think; sometimes you’ll be surprised at the support from unexpected corners.

19. If you can’t help but lose something, remember it fondly.

20. People are kind.

21. Sending & receiving postal love changes the value of a stamp into something priceless.

22. Thirty years is a long time (I never said they’d all be meaningful).

23. Keep having adventures.

24. You can’t control what you can’t control. But you can control your occupation, your location and your outlook on life.

25. Regret as little as possible.

26. If something ain’t sitting right, alter it.

27. It’s possible to write 50,000 words in 30 days, whatever else is going on.

28. You might not know what’s next, but there’s probably something good involved.

29. Anything is possible.

30. Be you.

How do you feel about birthdays? Raise a glass with me and be merry, if you haven’t already. There’s nothing wrong with getting older and wiser. 

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Off with their heads!

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Mad hat

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Drink me

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Eat me

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Down the rabbit hole

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Cheshire Cat

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Curiouser and curiouser

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Open me

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Welcome to Wonderland

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Six impossible things before breakfast

16 thoughts on “30 Observations On Turning 30

  1. Deborah Makarios

    That is an amazing tea-party! Truly, “It is always tea time.”
    As a frequently uprooted person myself, #17 struck a chord: “You can move all over the place, but it’s where you’re at inside that matters.” Words of wisdom.
    Who knows what you will have done (and become!) by 31?

    Reply
    1. Sara Litchfield Post author

      It was a fantastic tea party! I couldn’t believe my friend’s attention to detail – had no idea she was so crafty 🙂 17 resonates with me as well – I’ve done my share of running away as well as being uprooted through more natural causes, but whyever and wherever you go, you can’t run away from yourself. The very idea of 31! Hopefully great things to come 🙂

      Reply
  2. Cristina

    That birthday party is nothing to shake a tea cup at. I LOVE all things Alice. Happy Birthday!! So right, it’s all just a number, and we prefer words *not* numbers (you did leave your accounting job, right?) And as for #8 WELL, I am finally reading GoT. I am midway through the first book – no one suffers like Bran! 😀

    Reply
    1. Sara Litchfield Post author

      Lol thanks Cristina – it was definitely tea-lightful 🙂 haha #8 is my recurring comfort – GoT is just ghastly!

      Reply
  3. Kit Dunsmore

    Happy Belated Birthday! I love the pictures of your birthday breakfast. What a great little party idea. I was also in a bad place at my 30th birthday (about to separate from my first husband) but things got better. Wishing you a happier year, and a successful NaNoWriMo!

    Reply
    1. Sara Litchfield Post author

      Thanks Kit 🙂 it was such a great idea, and such a surprise! I’m sorry to hear that – I’m looking forward to the things getting better bit.. Thanks so much – a happy year to you too! I didn’t realise this was your 8th NaNo – that’s truly amazing!

      Reply
      1. Kit Dunsmore

        9th, actually. I’ve only won 8 times (but intend to win my 9th before the week is out!). Things always get better. We just have to be willing to watch and wait for it.

        Reply
  4. saraletourneau

    Wow, somehow I missed this when you posted it last week. I’m so glad you had such a wonderful birthday (and very happy we got to Skype a couple days later to catch up). Your friend’s idea for a Mad Hatter Tea Party was nothing short of brilliant – I just love looking at all of the photos again!

    I have to agree with all 30 of your observations. Although, maybe not #27, but that’s because my current lifestyle wouldn’t allow me to do that… unless I sacrificed sleep and other things. :S But I applaud anyone who can write 50,000 in 30 days. How’s it going for you? How many words do you have right now?

    Reply
    1. Sara Litchfield Post author

      Thanks Sara 🙂 Such a great tea party!

      I’m on 42k and aiming for 45 today to catch up with where I’m supposed to be and propel myself into the final weekend! I’m not too sure whether the story works lol, but I’ll worry about that when I read it through!

      Reply
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