Turned 30 today. Not at all where I thought I’d be for this ‘milestone’ birthday, but that’s not really a bad thing.

When I was young I used to have this delusion that I was going to graduate college at 22, find a great job, the right guy, get married at 25, first kid at 27, next kid at 29… The only part of that I kind of accomplished was finding a great job, or rather a handful of great jobs.

Looking back on it (because on top of it being my birthday, it’s also the time of year for reflection right?) I’m glad my life didn’t turn out the way I thought it would when I was still in high school.

If it had, I probably never would have gotten to travel to the places I’ve been to, or met the incredible people I’ve been blessed to encounter on my journey.

Had I met Mr. Right 7-8 years ago, odds are I never would have ended up working for RDS, which took me all over the country and even to Canada and London. Without that job, I never would have met the incredible people like Claudsie and LB, friends that I don’t talk to often, but when we do get together, we just pick up where we left off. Had I never been forced to get a passport to travel across the pond for work, I probably never would have had the guts to go to Italy alone for my 25th birthday.

Traveling alone is an AMAZING experience, I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to travel with friends and loved ones, but there’s something about the freedom of being alone without having to worry about anyone else’s schedule that’s absolutely exhilarating. I wasn’t a part of any tour group, and enjoyed the peace and wanderlust of being able to get lost in the ancient cities of Pisa and Florence without anyone else’s agenda but my own. I can’t wait to return someday.

I never would have had the opportunity to earn miles and hotel points that allowed me to stay in Paris for New Years, the year I went to Italy for my birthday. I never would have had the chance to ring in the new year standing underneath the Eiffel Tower with an amazing group of people that I met only hours earlier, and still have contact with to this day.

I never would have gone to Cancun with one of my best friends, spend 3 nights at an all inclusive resort, drinking and lounging by the pool/beach, just having a blast relaxing in one of the most beautiful beach cities in the world.

Had I been married with a kid at 27, I never would have met Kayla, and been introduced to an incredible group of strong and brilliant women, who’s impact on my life, however brief have made a lasting impression that I will carry with me always. I never would have traveled to Vancouver to check out the incredible city and indulge in the absolutely delicious Nanaimo bars.

I never would have had the opportunity to take my dad to London 2 Christmases ago, I never would’ve had the chance to see him fall in love with a city that I could see myself living in someday.

I’m not saying that had I gotten married, and had two kids by now that I’d feel like I missed out on some great adventure, but I don’t think I’d be as content with life as I am now. I still have this incredible urge to travel, to see the world, and that itch would be much harder to scratch if I had a husband and kids to worry about.

Sometimes I look around and see people younger than me, married with kids and settled in to their lives, and while that’s great for them, I’m glad it’s not me. There’s too much I want to do/see before I think about settling down.

So while I was younger and thought that I had to have my life sorted by 30, now that I’m here, I realize what’s the rush, as long as I can provide for myself and keep a roof over my head and food in my belly, I’ll be just fine.

So to whoever is out there reading my rambles, I hope you have a very Merry Christmas and may everything you deserve in life be yours.