(photo of me dancing taken by my dear dear friend, jasmine)

It was my birthday earlier this week — the big three-oh! I know friends who panicked at the idea of turning 30; we no longer can say we’re “twenty-something,” and we can no longer blame our youth on things. But I think the thing that scares people the most is that 30 is like some age marker that we set for ourselves when we were younger. How many of us thought that at age thirty, we’d have it all figured out and that we’d have achieved goals that we had set for ourselves when we were younger? Or at least, we’d be well on our way. To be honest, turning 30 didn’t feel all that scary to me, mainly I think because I feel like I’ve accomplished so much already at the age of 30. Are they all the things that I thought that I would accomplish when I was young? No, but it doesn’t diminish them – my life goals just shifted as I got older. And what I have achieved in the thirty years I have been alive is certainly something to be proud of, and very, very thankful for.

The biggest accomplishment (outside of my photography ventures), I would have to say is reaching a point that I’ve always wanted to reach when I was a little girl — and that is to dance en pointe in ballet. I don’t think I’ve actually blogged about that here — I’ve mentioned it on twitter and facebook, but for some reason, I never brought it up here.

(photo of tiffany, taken when we did her dance shoot)

Funny, because it is such a huge thing. I mean, my business name is called En Pointe! It’s something I’ve always, always wanted, and it only took me 25ish years (going back to when I began to want to become a ballerina) to achieve it. It is such a huge thing because I was 29 when I started doing pointe work (I started classical ballet training at 18 and attended classes on and off), and I know of so many people who think that since they didn’t start young, they can’t do something like that. There are so many things in life that are like that — things that we desire to do, but we think because we’re no longer “young” we can’t do them. We can’t achieve them. Like our age is some barrier from actually doing it! Sure, with age comes physical problems, but I think with age, comes the understanding of our own bodies & selves better. On top of that, I honestly think that with passion, commitment, and a love of whatever you’re doing and a true desire to do it, you can achieve anything.

(photo of tiffany, taken when we did her dance shoot)

Which brings me back to beginning pointe. There are times in ballet class when I can’t believe I’m actually doing pointe work – it is seriously a dream come true. And for that I can’t be more thankful.

I am externally thankful for these 30 years, and I am so extremely excited to see what the year & decade has to bring. I am thankful for a loving better half, my beautiful friends, my amazing job & clients, and the ability to do the things that I love so much. <3

Happy Thanksgiving to you all and I hope you spend lots & lots of quality time with all the people and things that make your life rich! xo