Hi, it’s my 30th birthday.
I’ve been terrified of this day for a very long time. I set such high expectations for myself and where I wanted to be when I hit the big 3-0. In fact, before I started this blog, I wrote for another website and one of my biggest posts was about my 30 before 30 list. Sheepishly, I look back and I have to admit to myself that I was a little overzealous.
There was no way I was going to travel abroad before I was 30. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
I haven’t started my half-sleeve tattoo yet. In fact, I don’t even have the final drawings done.
I have yet to find a job that is out of the state (or at least one that has been good enough for me to move for – although I’m always open *hint hint gluten-free companies that live in Portland, Seattle, SLC, or Denver.*
However, I did eventually have a boyfriend and I did finally have my first Valentine’s Day – romantic comedy style. However, I am not yet married with an extravagant wedding that I’ve always dreamed of since I was a wee little princess.
But, I do have a really cool website. And I have over 2,000 Facebook fans. And I have a fan base of people (like you reading this) that send me awesome messages saying that I’ve made a difference in your life (or at least I entertain you).
While not everyone knows me when I go to expos, and not every celiac I see in the aisles at Whole Foods is wearing our shirts – I think we’ve made a great dent in the gluten-free world so far, and I’m happy to see where it’s going.
Right now I need to be happy that I’ve made it to 30 with most of my sanity. I have survived a celiac disease diagnosis and the accompanying shenanigans for five years in and out of doctor’s offices and hospitals. I have spent more on health insurance than I ever thought I would when I thought of my 30’s. But, I feel like I finally have answers to where my body was, where it is now, and where it’s going.
I need to be happy with my fantastic family, amazing set of friends, and my budding gluten-free business. I am proud of who I’ve turned out to be at 30 – screw the expectations I had of myself when I was 10, 20, or even 29.
I am 30. I am alive. I am awesome. And I will never forget it.
Tagged: celiac disease, gluten free, happy birthday
Happy Birthday! I promise you that you will love your 30’s. I am sure of it. I dreaded turning 30 myself and had not accomplished all I wanted either, or thought I wanted, sometimes directions change. I think you are in a super place, you have love in your life, your blogging which helps SO many people, and it is obvious you love to help people and that you have been through a lot, anyone with Celiac Disease has. I am WAY past 30, and it was the only birthday I ever dreaded. I am 62, hard for me to believe, and I went through 40, 50, now 60 kind of bothered me, but I have a family I love, I work on my Celiac Disease as you do and try to be healthy, and I still have not done everything I thought I wanted, but I have done many other things, and I know now family, friends, love, all the unexpected experiences and just hanging in there are the best of life. I wish only the very best for you, you have so much to look forward to, and you are an important part of many lifes!! You are special
Happy 30th! & yes, screw expectations, you’re awesome!
Happy Birthday Erica. The world is a better place with you in it.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I am getting closer and closer to 30 so I can relate. It’s a daunting number but I feel once I reach it, I will celebrate. I am trying hard to not worry about all the expectations I had for myself to do before 30 and to just enjoy to ride!
Happy birthday awesome lady!
I hope you believe how awesome you are, even if you haven’t travelled abroad…you just need to find a GF expo in Europe and use it as a tax deduction 🙂
Late reading this BUT how amazing!! I’m just a wee-pup at 23 and I already feel like I havn’t accomplished anything I wanted to, but you have helped me realize that there is a lot more to be proud of and happy about than I realize! Happy belated 3-0 to my favorite Blogger!
THANK YOU! 🙂