Thirty but not dirty

Finally, I am 30!

Ever since I was 18, all I wanted was to be 30. I never cared much for my 20s at all, I felt that there was just too much pressure and expectation on them. Your 20s are when you're expected to work out what you want to do for the rest of your life, finish your studies, build your career. Your 20s are also when you're supposed to live life to the fullest - travel the world, dance until all hours of the morning, cultivate life long friendships. Your 20s are also when you're supposed to find The One - meet someone what makes your heart skip a beat every time you see them, put a smile on your face when you think of them, and bring a heaviness to your heart when you think about living without them.

There was just way too much pressure to get it all right in your 20s.

So, I always wanted to be 30. I wanted to be past that stage of setting up my life - I wanted to skip all that and just jump to my life already being set up. And now I'm here and I am grateful for all that has happened in my 20s. I have built up beautiful friendships, I have travelled the world and more, I have danced to all hours of the morning, I have built a career that has taken me further than I ever thought I would go, and yes, I have found someone who makes my heart skip a beat, and puts a smile on my face.

What would I tell my 20 year old self?

RELAX. Live life and enjoy it. Do some crazy things some times. If you like someone, tell them. Learn to declutter your lives. Remove toxic friendships and relationships. Aim to be happy. And every chance you get, when opportunities arise - as insane as they may be - jump at them, because all things happen for a reason.

I'm so happy to turn 30... so happy to have my 20s have all worked out ok. I'm here, I'm healthy, I have beautiful friends, a loving family and a partner that I love and believe in. Plus I have a cute little mini suzchef growing inside me!

So, thank you everyone for your kind and generous birthday wishes. Much love, smiles and happiness from this lady who has survived her 20s relatively unscathed (and without a wrinkle so far to show - WIN)!!

thesuzchef x