Reflection

This year, I turned 30. When I was younger (you know, a teenager, 21 years old…) I thought that when I turned 30 years old, I would have it all figured out. Being 30 meant that I would be old. It would mean that I’m officially an adult. I would have my life all figured out and that it was all downhill afterward. I didn’t think that when I turned 30, I would find myself entering a whole new season of change.

I’ll be the first to admit that things have come together more than I thought they would. Over the course of three (!!) years, I met the love of my life, moved a state west, found an amazing job, got married, adopted a dog, and bought a house – and those are just the big things. It’s been a whirlwind, to be honest. My life went from stagnant to flying by, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Here’s the thing; my life is all about to (and already has started to) change. Last fall, I took the plunge, conquered my fear and took the GRE. I aced it (#notsohumblebrag) and was accepted to begin my PhD in the fall at the University of Minnesota. This is a huge accomplishment that I’m immensely proud of and cannot wait to start. This would have been enough of a change.

But then an opportunity at work came up. Over the past month, I have transitioned from my job of three years (which I loved) to a new position. This was completely unexpected. I wasn’t planning a move, but this position came up in a new unit and I couldn’t say no to it. It’s directly in line with what I want to do and is giving me the opportunity to gain a new skill set in the field that I love.

Both of these things are great. But at 30, I wasn’t expecting to enter a new season of change. 

Life seems to come in waves. I anticipated the next few years to be the calm before the storm. The quiet time before Jason and I begin to think about adding kids to our family, as we think about where in the US we ultimately want to settle down. And now, it’s all up in the air. All of the certainty seems to have vanished.

Here’s the thing, though. I didn’t plan for this. If anything, I would say that I was planning for the opposite of this. But all of a sudden, I am faced with opportunity. I see challenges and opportunity and open roads ahead of me. I would by lying if I said I wasn’t intimidated as hell. I am. I am 3 years old and am going back to school with a bunch of kids, while trying to learn a new job, where I work 50+ hours each week. It’s crazy.

And I would by lying if I said I wasn’t totally excited to take it on. I guess that’s what I’m trying to say. I didn’t plan for this, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Cheers.

Your Turn! Do you (or have you) find yourself going through a season of change in your life?