Turning 30 can be both daunting and exciting at the same time! I was given a lot of advice, but my favorite was: “after 30, you’ll have a f***k it mentality, which will make your life so much easier!” The words “life” and “easy” don’t exactly belong in the same sentence, so I was already skeptical. Taking this with a grain of salt, I began planning my 30th birthday! I absolutely LOVE my birthday. Throughout the entirety of my life, my friends and family have known that I make a conscious effort on a daily basis to put others before myself. This is the main reason why I get so excited for my birthday, because I feel like it’s the one day in the entire year that I can truly enjoy the day dedicated to myself, 100% guilt-free. I began brainstorming by wanting to throw a rager at my house and I quickly changed that plan and opted for a girls dinner, but I didn’t want to exclude some of my friends’ husbands or boyfriends. Because of this, I finally landed on having a picnic by the water at one of my favorite places in the whole world, Dana Point Harbor!
Dana Point Harbor has been my happy place for as long as I can remember. You can find me at my happy place whenever I feel like my world is falling apart. This is the one spot where I instantly feel a wave of peace and sense of calmness take over. Naturally, on the best day of the year, I thought it would bring me even more happiness and peace! To my surprise, although I was mostly surrounded by people who cared for me, I didn’t feel happy. There were many reasons for this, but my number one reason was that I felt like I was confused and nervous about the future. In the back of my head, I had this voice yelling “you’re turning 30, what’s next?” As an organized planner, I’ve always had a plan for most things…except my life wasn’t going according to plan. Ruh roh! I never thought I’d be single, still helping my parents with their business, in school again, or making stupid decisions in terms of who I chose to keep in my life or cut out. In hindsight, this was not a stupid decision, but it sure felt like it at the moment.
Embracing the confusion, I knew there were two things I did love that would bring me comfort during this uncomfortable time– traveling and nature! Knowing this, I decided to book a solo trip to Portland, OR which had always been on my bucket list. All of my friends were in different phases of life at this time and I felt like having someone with me, that wouldn’t understand what I was going through, wouldn’t give me any clarity. I needed to be alone and with my thoughts.
Going on this solo trip was probably the best decision I made in 2024 because it kicked off a domino effect of positives in my life. The following came out of this amazing trip:
- I was reassured that I was going to be okay, great actually!
- I would never get bored because I know how to show myself a good time
- People who were going to make me feel bad for being myself, didn’t belong in my life
- I had accomplished so much and I never even took a moment to congratulate myself for any of it
- Nature is actually the equivalent of pre-workout to me (coming from a caffeine addict)
- Rental car places will overbook just like airlines do– I almost didn’t have a car lol
You might think to yourself, “well, I already live alone and spend a lot of time by myself, so why would I need to go on a solo trip to discover these things when I could just do it from home?” You’re right, you don’t NEED to! I live alone too, but I needed to escape to a place where no one knew me to feel like I was truly alone and could think without clouded judgment. Also, who doesn’t love a good excuse to travel?!
Life doesn’t always follow the plans we meticulously create, but sometimes, the unexpected detours lead us to the most beautiful discoveries. As I reflected on my solo journey, I realized that turning 30 wasn’t about having everything figured out—it was about learning to trust myself, embrace change, and celebrate the accomplished person I’ve become. Whether it’s booking a trip or just stepping outside your comfort zone, growth begins when you embrace the unknown. Here’s to 30, and to whatever comes next! ✈️✨
