30 Things Every Woman Should Have And Should Know by the Time She’s 30
The book turned up in my latest shipment of best sellers last week. I’ll admit I’d never heard of it before, though I’m sure at some point the original list made it’s way to my mother in the 90s when it was written, but at that point “30” was so far off in my future that I wouldn’t have even considered comprehending such a thing. When you’re 12 …30 is…ancient. Now that I’m 29…well there are days when 30 still seems ancient, and days when I look in the mirror and go “hey, it’s only a number”…an attitude which I know some friends of mine are convinced will vanish once the calendar brings about the end of my twenties, but which I am determined to hang on to as long as possible.
So…The List (as the book so candidly refers to itself) made its way into my life now, perhaps that’s exactly when it was supposed to.
As I was reading through this little book, it occurred to me just how lucky I am. A lot of these things are lifetime projects, but a lot of them – more than I thought – I’ve already learned. So…here’s my little pet project…
One entry per…well…list entry…I warn you in advance, not all of the entries may get posted..or I may not even finish…some may be only one line long…but…I want to see how this turns out…
The entries won’t be cross-posted to face book, if you want to read them you’ll have to catch them as they go up. But there will be a separate category for them in the archives.
So…here goes…
And…here’s the actual list:
By 30, you should have:
1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.
6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.
12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
13. The belief that you deserve it.
14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
By 30, you should know:
1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
2. How you feel about having kids.
3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend with-out ruining the friendship.
4. When to try harder and when to walk away.
5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.
7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
8. Where to go—be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat—when your soul needs soothing.
9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.
10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.
13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
15. Why they say life begins at 30!