31

I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be in your thirties.  I turned 31 last year, and I’ve never felt more like myself.  I brought this up to Wes the other week and he (at 33) agreed with me.  At this point in my life, I am unapologetically myself, and I really love who that person is.

I am a person who likes to “get ready”, but I prefer just letting my hair air dry and putting on some tinted moisturizer.  I learned to love my bare face when I was pregnant with Will and Wes challenged me to give up makeup for Lent.  “You don’t need it,” he said.  He was right.  I like it, sometimes, but it doesn’t define me.  My face, with its laugh lines and sun spots, tells my story.  I’m not going to cover it up because the world says I should.

I’m a person who has a closet full of clothes but prefers to wear my three pairs of Lou & Grey lounge pants on repeat.  I do laundry every day, so it’s very easy to make that happen.  When I’m comfortable, I’m happy.  And that’s not something to be ashamed of.

I’m a person who knows who my people are.  You all…this, I’m ashamed to admit, took me way too long to figure out.  I spent the greater part of my first 23 years trying to fit into groups that I just didn’t fit into.  I didn’t belong at the high school cafeteria table with all the cheerleaders.  I didn’t belong at the fraternity party, although I tried really, really hard to.  I convinced myself I was someone I wasn’t too many times.  But I finally know who I am and who I belong with.  I’m not afraid of what I’ll miss out on if I don’t check certain boxes anymore.  The people in my life now know the real me.  And they love me just the way I am.

Even though I am a person who knows who she is and who is comfortable in her own skin, I’m also a person who isn’t done growing.  I make mistakes daily (hourly).  I learn from them.  I’m a mom and a wife and a daughter and I know the people who give me those titles are my ride or die.  I have a couple of best friends from different stages of life who hold me accountable to be the person I want to be.  I’m a boss and a co-worker, and I try to be the best person and leader I can be for myself and for the people in my life.  But at the end of the day, I am who I am.

I am a 31-year-old, perfectionist who is loud and silly and a complete weirdo.  I make up songs for my kids and sing them like a Broadway star.  I am over-dramatic and an over-reactor.  I am emotional.  I care way too much.  I love hard.  I have grey hair.  I like French fries and tolerate exercising.  I just want to snuggle 90% of the time.  I am in bed by 8:30 PM every night.  I like waking up early to read my devotional and drink my coffee with way too much creamer.  Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, but I almost always skip it.  I like specific compliments.  I am a Florida girl in my Kentucky home.  I am happy.  I am loved.  I am me.

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