30 Things I Learned in My 30s

I vaguely remember my first "T-9 birthday."

"What's a "T-9 birthday?" you ask.

A "T-9" birthday is the last birthday before starting a new decade, like when you turn "Twen 'T-9'" or last year when I turned "Thir 'T-9."

In all honesty, I think the one thing I remember about my first "T-9 birthday" was that it was my first "T-9 birthday." I remember much more about my second because the entire year was a special one. I remember last year's birthday so clearly because it began with a beautiful Mass in a beautiful place with beautiful people and then continued with me going to places where I could get free stuff for my birthday.

The present moment isn't the first time I've thought about turning 40. Far from being anxious about it, I'm actually very excited. In hindsight, I realize my 20s were when I knew nothing. My 30s were when I started to learn about and have confidence in who I am. And my hope is that my 40s will be when I get to live out who I am. As my 30s come to a close and I look forward to the next decade, here are some things I've learned that I will take into the next ten years and beyond:

1. As we age, nobody is getting any younger. This first pic is of me during celebrating my 30th birthday with my nephew who is about to graduate from high school an my grand niece who is almost out of elementary school.

2. Dehumidifiers (and humidifiers) can help TONS when trying to make a room comfortable.

3. Making popcorn on a stove top is easier than it looks and tastes way better than store bought

4. The same is true for banana bread and toffee.

5. It isn't a good idea to use a hand mixer in a crock pot that has a disposable plastic lining in it. You will not have a good evening.

6. Disneyland at 31 is just as fun as Disneyland as a kid. (I think...I went for my first time at 32!)

7. Malbec is my favorite wine...but if I like the taste of a $10 bottle, I'll drink that, too. No need to be snooty about wine. If you like it, drink it and don't worry about what other people think.

8. In fact, most people probably aren't thinking what you think they're thinking about you.

9. I'm not missing out on much by not having Netflix...or Hulu.

10. Filipinos start celebrating Christmas as early as September...and it's wonderful.

11. I don't really like escape rooms, but if I'm going to be in one, it has to be with people I really like.

12. You can't always trust AirBnB reviews.

13. Making tamales is pretty much as labor intensive as making lumpia (maybe even more so).

14. A trip to Rome and the Vatican is totally worth it.

15. Staplers have a tiny compartment at the bottom where you can store the staples.

16. You're supposed to drink half your weight in ounces of water each day. (ie, if you weight 100 pounds, you should be drinking 50 ounces of water a day.) I rarely do this.

17. My dad has a lot of stories I've never heard about his childhood in the Philippines...and I hope I get to hear more of them.

18. Global pandemics can make everyone think they are professionals in the medical field, research field, and/or theology. This isn't healthy for anyone.

19. Pope St. John Paul II's favorite dessert is called kremowka...and it is delicious.

19. Losing a pet will make you cry. And that's ok. I still miss my Toto.

20. So much more goes into Church architecture than you realize, and it's fascinating. The day I started learning about ontology was the day I realized there was no turning back when it comes to wanting beautiful churches and liturgies.

21, The red sanctuary candle in the Domus Mariae Atlanta is A REAL CANDLE.

22. I don't have to be a professional at something in order to enjoy it. Just take a look at the things I've painted and the recitals I've tapped in.

23. It's possible to not do anything wrong but still get kicked out of a foreign country.

24. Sometimes mission territory is the streets of Atlanta. Other times it's Ashland, MT, Reno, NV, or St. Louis, MO. More often than not, though it's the heart of the person sitting right next to you.

25. I CAN plan and host a big event...and really love it.

26. After all this time, my mom is still the best cook I know, and I can spend the rest of my life trying to cook like her.

27. Zoom calls with family are where we reminisce, making new memories, laugh until we cry, and remember that nothing can replace the bonds we have by blood.

28. It's ok if I'm not perfect, if I have to change my mind, or if I have to say no in order to protect my own boundaries. Doing so isn't selfish.

29. I still have a whole lot left to learn - from books, from experiences, from old, people, from young people.

and 30. I am so incredibly loved. I didn't always know this in my 20s. My reflection while praying in the chapel today was that Love is always close. What a beautiful thing that the Holy Spirit put on my heart as we continue to celebrate the Word made Flesh during Christmastime! I can feel the love of God when I'm by myself, all around me. The love of Christ is with me always. But sometimes He wants to use others to love me - friends, family, people I encounter in public. And it will take me more than 40 years to understand how big His love actually is...it is a lesson I am willing to learn.