On the 24th November, 2017, I successfully competed my 30th rotation around the Sun.
Growing up, turning 30 was always portrayed in movies and on TV as this terrible and unthinkable event that would be the worst day of your life, especially if you were a female. Being a 30-year-old was not ok!
Women would cling to the number 29 like it was their last hope, especially I noted, if they hadn’t reached all the socially acceptable requirements of a 30 year old; Having a husband, owning a house, having kids. There was a lot of pressure, it seemed, to have all of these massive “life goals” ticked off by the time you reached 30, or so help you god, you would be labelled a spinster and therefore be unmarried-able for the rest of your life.
Now, these days I think a lot of us have moved that dread and fear to the 40th birthday, as women have begun to see their 30’s as a continuation of their 20’s, breaking the social stigma that had haunted previous generations. Women are chasing careers outside of the home and leaving such things as marriage and kids until their 30’s. Although, there are still quite a few that are very self-conscious of aging in general and turning 30 is just another nail in their coffin.
I’m not married, nor do I own my own house and I don’t have any children either. Thank god I didn’t hit this milestone during the 90’s, and my condolences if you did!
So with that social stigma almost irrelevant in today’s society, why do some women still feel uneasy with this transition from 29 to 30?
For me, turning 30 was exciting! I couldn’t wait to leave my awkward 20’s behind and I also couldn’t wait to be rid of my dam Saturn Return, which had been terrorizing me for the past three years. 
I also felt (and still do) a massive amount of pride to be hitting this landmark milestone, as I know people who never will.
I have a friend who will always be sweet 16, and another two whom will always be young men in their 20’s. These gorgeous souls left this earth with their whole lives in front of them. Their lives were cut tragically short.
Going through the loss of each one of these beautiful friends has made me ever the more grateful for the fact that I am still here. This hard reality was brought to my attention, with even more aptitude, when I was about to turn 30 years old.
I see aging as a great honour and I am very much aware it’s not something we that all get to experience.
With all that being said though, I don’t wish to be any older than I am. All I want to do is continue to be grateful for each year I am still here and to take in my stride the inevitable aging that is going to occur to my body. All in good time though, here’s hoping! 
This aversion we have to aging is worrying. If you look at the tribal communities from around the world, the Elders were the leaders. Old women were the healers, with their knowledge of plants and herbs and a life time of wisdom. Now, we send the elderly to rest homes where they are very rarely given the attention, or the respect they deserve.
Being an Elder has lost its importance and its social stature from the tribal era of the human race. Instead, woman now attempt to starve off any signs of the great achievement that is, aging!
Right now I feel like I am standing at the precipice, of the rest of my life. I feel as though I am only now coming into my own.
Maybe I’m a late bloomer or a slow learner when it comes to life, I don’t know. But whatever the reason, or lack thereof, I am glad I am here today the way I am. And, to all those females who were able to work their lives out in their 20’s and get married, have kids and buy a house, I SALUTE YOU! It’s honestly something to be admired.
But, for the rest of us, who cares! Society may try and pin us down into their little boxes and put labels on us, but if we are happy, healthy and living life to the fullest, then who’s to say OUR life goals haven’t already been ticked off!?
I will never be afraid to age. I will commemorate every big milestone I hit, and maybe even some of the smaller ones, because who knows when it might be my last?
The beauty of life is to live it, always in the moment, always present and grateful.
I’m extremely excited for what this upcoming decade has in store for me, I feel like I have another 10 years to develop and grow into so much more. 
So, CHEERS to the dirty 30’s!
Just like a good wine, I intend to only get better with age!
SA xx
Susan Andrews 