29 & 364 Days...

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Today is the last day of my 20's. Tonight, I'll go to bed as a 29 year old. And when I wake up in the morning, I'll be 30. 

I know it's just a number. It's just another birthday. You're only as old as you feel. So on, and so forth... 

I don't feel any different. I don't suddenly feel a decade older. I'm excited to turn 30. My 20's were great. There were definitely ups & downs (broken hearts, college graduations, weddings, babies, cats & dogs, deployments, homecomings, moves, new jobs & friends), but all in all it was a great decade. But I think my 30's will be even better. I'm going to make sure it's my best decade yet. 

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I want to finally figure out what to do with my life. Having a degree and not using it is BS. If I owe the government an exorbitant amount of money in student loans, I want to at least use the degree. 

I want to explore the passions I've developed over the past few years. I've become almost fanatical about animal rights and food. I want to do something to help animals in need, and I want to continue to explore my  talent in the kitchen.

I want to achieve the fitness goals that I've always aspired to. I want to run a marathon. I've been talking about it since I was 18, and I want to accomplish this, this decade. The fact of the matter is, I've spent the majority of my 20's overweight, and I want better for myself for this next chapter of my life. 

I want my existing relationships for continue to flourish, and I'm excited about developing new ones. Moving to Arkansas has been one of the most challenging and beneficial experiences of my life. It's forced me to make an effort to maintain relationships back home. I don't feel as if I've drifted away from friends and family. Every time we're in North Carolina, I feel as if we never left. I pick up right where I left off with the people who matter, and I know it will always be that way. I've never been good at making friends, and being here has helped that. I've opened up a lot more, and a lot quicker than I ever have before. I hope that continues once we get to Virginia. 

I want my marriage to continue to strengthen. Graham and our fur family bring me so much joy. I am so excited about our upcoming move to Virginia and all of the adventures we'll have together. I want us to do more exploring than we've done here. I want us to make the most of every single moment that we have together. 

I know May 17 is just another day for most of the world, but it's so significant to me. I'm spending this day in a car with Hermione, driving to Texas. My birthday isn't going to be a big party... it's going to be a day of shopping & sightseeing in Dallas, a nice dinner out and a birthday cake with the love of my life. Food, shopping, cake & my husband. I can't think of a better way to ring in a new decade!