There are a few times each year that I take pause and think, “Ahhhh, a new beginning!”
There’s New Year’s, of course, and although I’ve abandoned making New Year’s Resolutions, I still like to do a bit of reflecting.
Then there’s fall, which — no matter how old or far removed I get — will always remind me of “back to school” and that sense of exciting challenges and possibility. And also clean notebooks, new outfits, and sweet haircuts.
But there’s also spring.
Spring is the happy time. The snow is melted, the cold is gone, and people are a whole lot nicer. We’re thawed out. In New York that means you’ll only get your feet run over by a double stroller on the Upper East Side six times during the morning commute instead of eight!
Here in Manhattan, spring is in full bloom. (If you missed the cherry blossoms in D.C., head on over to Central Park ASAP, where the flowers are so spectacular that my throat has completely closed up and I haven’t been able to breathe for a week! Don’t care. Worth it.)
And while spring on its own brings more positive attitudes and blasts of “it’s almost summer” enthusiasm, it also coincides with another new beginning: my birthday!
I turn 30 today.
There were a few times over the past year that I thought, “Holy shit, I’m turning 30???” and freaked out for half a second. But I’ve never been one to harp on age or freak out about entering a new decade. I’m equal parts happy with how the past 10 played out and psyched for what’s in store for the next 10.
We had a great time, twenties. My god, we had such fun.
We were captain of the Quinnipiac University Kickline team and won the Scholastic Kickline Championship.
We graduated from college. We got our first “real job” as web editor of Dance Spirit — and hustled until we were editor in chief. We made tough career decisions, like deciding to leave Dance Spirit after seven wonderful and rewarding years…
…and easier but equally monumental career decisions, like choosing to leave JackRabbit after eight sometimes wonderful but not as rewarding months to pursue a full-time (and wildly exciting and scary and fulfilling and scary) freelance writing and editing adventure. We lived in two dorms, two houses, and five different New York City apartments.
We started running.
We started running half-marathons.
We started running marathons.
We were sick. A lot. But we survived and got so much stronger.
We went to something like 146 weddings.
We got a sister-in-law…
…a nephew…
…and a niece.
We made so many lifelong, game-changing friends. We fell in love, broke some hearts, had our hearts broken, and eventually met the best dude.
So far, I’m digging being 30. I woke up to flowers from Brian, and was out the door by 5:10 AM for November Project.
My friend Steve wrote on my Facebook wall yesterday saying, “Tomorrow’s your birthday!!!” And my response was, “On birthdays, we wear pink!” I was kind of kidding. But then everyone actually wore pink. It was amazing and beautiful and so coordinated. The power of Facebook, I tell ya.
My NP friends spoiled me good and rotten with hats, hugs, cupcakes, flowers, a gift bag (including a selfie stick!!!), a phone call from West Coast Lucy (which meant she had to wake up at 3:19 AM to be FaceTimed in), and a whole lot of love.
The twenties were fun as hell.
But the thirties? Everyone says that’s where life really begins.
That in your thirties, it all gets really good.
So let’s do that.
Let’s get really good.
45 Responses
Somehow I missed this post. So, belatedly HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I turned 40 in February and cannot believe that my 40s will ever be able to trump my 30s. They were awesome, from start to finish, and I’m confident yours will be too. I got married at 30, became a mum and a runner and a Californian and a vegetarian in my 30s. I learned to be nice to myself and to be kinder to others in my 30s. I discovered red velvet cake and macademia nuts and mint oreos in my 30s. I discovered amazing authors in my 30s and first saw Idris Elba in my 30s. You’re going to love them. xxx
Happy Birthday!!!!
Happy Birthday, Ali! I just turned 31 in April and I have to say 30 was very kind to me. I feel more secure and not so much trying to figure life out like I was in my 20s.
Happy Birthday, Ali! Your twenties looked fun, but I think you’re right-your thirties will be even better. Here’s to the best decade yet!
Hope you had the absolute best birthday – you have so much to look forward, let the even better things begin!!!
Happy Birthday Ali!!!! Hope you had a fantastic day! All the best in the year to come!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I love this post. It’s so easy to be negative about getting older, but you’re so so right – 30 is going to be killer 🙂 Love your positive attitude !
Happy Birthday Ali!
Happy 30th, Ali! Reading your blog is always a pick-me-up for me. Also, I love that you have a friend you call “West Coast Lucy”…it reminds me of “outside Dave” in New Girl.
Happy Birthday
Your enthusiasm for life is infectious! Happy Birthday Ali!!!
Hooray for pink! 30’s are better in so many ways 🙂 Hope you eat lots of yummy (i.e. nutella filled) treats!
Awesome post! Have a wonderful birthday, you deserve it!
This is beautiful! I turned 27 yesterday and am already freaked out about 30. Thanks for the reminder to not worry about a number!
Wishing you a happy 30th birthday filled with lots of pink, sparkles, giraffes, jazz hands, nutella and anything else that makes you happy!
Happy Happy Birthday!! The 30s do rock. And you will be rocking them for sure! This is your year Ali!! 🙂
such a fun post — glad you had such fun 20s, and hope 30 starts off super rad for you. i’m loving my 30s so far!
Such an awesome post! I am 28 but am already excited for my 30’s! Thanks for this and HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY!!!
I turn 30 in September and read this every day until then. Hope you like the page views. They’ll all be me.
And Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday! 🙂 Love that you and your fellow birthday girls all wore pink. Here’s to another fabulous 30 and many, many more!
Happy birthday! I turn 30 in a month so now reading your post I’m getting all introspective and emotional! Ha! I have heard the 30s are even better than the 20s, and I choose to believe it! 🙂
HBD! And I pretty much think 30s are better than 20s. Sure the HOs are worse in your 30s, but it’s nice to not be as poor and not get ridiculed for staying in on Fridays… or Saturdays. Ha. And something about being 30 at work is better… you’re no longer the young idiot. 🙂 And I mean you may just decide to adopt 2 cats… oh wait, that’s just me. (#meow) Enjoy your day! Love, your old and wise 33 yr old friend, Liz
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Have a kickass day!
Happy Birthday. Mine is Saturday. Tauruses rock
Happiest of birthdays to you, m’lady. I can tell you that, as of of seven months in, being 30 is pretty great. <3
Happy birthday Ali. I’m looking at thirty here soon as well and also feel like twenties were fun but also ok to leave behind. Looking forward to the next big events, if all goes well the thirty year will include my first marathons, a 70.3 and babies. Not a bad start to the decade.
Happy Birthday Ali! I turn 30 tomorrow (eek!) and while I haven’t been dreading it, I haven’t been super stoked for it either…LOL. Your excitement helps convince me it might not be as bad as it sounds—it just makes me feel SO OLD–like when did that happen? Yikes! Anyway, we should celebrate with Selena Gomez and a Celine Dion karaoke fest at my house in our PJs with cupcakes? Yes? Yes! Happy day again!
Happy Birthday. Have a fab day and lots of fun. i am well in my 30’s now and neither feel grown up or responsible. I would agree that is a great age and you have some wonderful things to come. 🙂
Happy Birthday! I turned 30 last year and have to say it’s been pretty fabulous so far. Enjoy!
Happy birthday Ali! This post is so sunny and bright. Whenever I see you, I feel your energy and the sun just bursting from you. May your sun always shine!
Happiest of birthdays to you! 30’s are fabulous – just coming from experience 😉
Happy happy 30th birthday!! Love this post!!
happy birthday ali!!! i know 30 will be a great one for you!
This post is amazing……happy, happy birthday!!
This post is awesome. Happy birthday Ali!!!
HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAYZ!!!!! I am going to wish you a happy birthday in every way imaginable. BRB, gotta get back to posting embarassing photos of you on Facebook with Scott…
WOOOOOO 30!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy BD!! Yes, I think it just keeps getting better and better as we get older. You have so so much fun stuff in store. Enjoy every minute!
Ha! And wait till 40….it keeps getting better and pink is still the color of choice to celebrate birthdays. 🙂 happy 30th!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALI! It makes me happy to see so much happy on your birthday! Hope you have a wonderful decade with much froyo, smiles, laughs, and a puppy! OMG Brian, she needs a puppy.. look at that face!
Happy birthday Ali! 🙂 hope you have a great decade ahead. Love reading your blog posts and if you ever come to Singapore, look me up!
– Shweta
I’m fairly certain we all had coach wristlets attached to our bodies 6 years ago, it’s amazing we didn’t all get coach tattoos! Happy Happy Birthday is looks like a fabulous time. My actual birthday was look key last week, and then I made the mature 27 year old decision to day drink well into the evening…I’m still debating if it was fun to last a lifetime, or the last time i should do that in my lifetime.
awwww HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Everyone wearing PINK to celebrate made me so happy!!! Hope you have a fabulous day!!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! I turned 30 last August and, embarassingly, wasn’t as joyful about it as you are! However, I can certainly say it has been WONDERFUL so far.
I hope you have a great day and the BEST year yet!
Happy Birthday, birthday twin! Fellow May 6er over here! Hope your day is amazing! It looks like you’ve had a pretty great start. . .
Love this post. Hope you have a wonderful birthday!