Aren’t I Supposed to Be Successful by 30?

I had a plan. 

I was going to graduate from college at 22.  Be married by 25.  Start having kids at 28.  And be a successful, functioning, debt-less adult by 30. 

Let’s all applaud my ignorance together. 

I am less than a year from thirty and so far off course from where I intended.  In fact, if it weren’t so defeating it would probably make me laugh out loud.  Nearly 3 years ago I wrote a blog post called 3 Years ’til 30.  Nearly 3 years later, I have accomplished nothing that I set out to.  I’ve not written a book.  I’ve yet to visit Belize.  And Dave Ramsey & I still have some serious things to tackle together. 

Instead of accomplishing my goals, I’ve changed my career (again), moved into a new apartment (again!), gotten married (thankfully for the first time!!) and questioned many of my life choices.

My identity, though formed, feels vague.  I was always “The Writer,” or “The Reader,” or “The One With Potential.”  I thought for sure that by 30 I would be Someone; off Somewhere doing Something big and exciting and important. 

Instead, I’m living a life of quiet obscurity in a town where no one knows who I was before my husband.  Which isn’t a bad thing.  But it’s not quite what I had imagined for myself. 

Before you get the wrong idea, let me say that I don’t mean to paint the picture of a bleak and unfulfilled life.  By no means is my situation even slightly unfavorable.  I am young and healthy.  I live in a beautiful apartment with the man of my dreams.  My husband dotes on me.  My friendships are thriving.  I want for nothing, truly.  I am blessed and I am thankful. 

I’m just saying I had a plan.  But sometimes plans change and I am learning to deal with that.  

Maybe it’s my impending 30’s talking, but it feels as if the days are slipping by quickly.  I don’t feel like the young girl I once was.  I am realizing that life is found in the moments between when you are young and when you are not.  

I don’t want to waste those moments. 

A friend of mine has decided for herself that 2019 will be her year to “unplug.”  As much as I like to be abreast of things, I’ll admit that a social media cleanse sounds appealing.  I’d like to focus more on writing.  And reading.  And fulfilling potential.  But mostly writing. 

I’ve got 5 months and 3 days until the big 3-0.  Who knows?  Maybe that’s enough time to write a book. 

5 responses to “Aren’t I Supposed to Be Successful by 30?”

  1. Great post. Enjoy your 30’s. They can be quietly fabulous! Trust me on this one. AND…. Your friend is very wise! Unplug away!

  2. Hi Kay, it’s been a very very long time. Where have you been? I trust you’re doing wonderfully great.

    You see Kay, success isn’t defined by our age, size, skin colour or even material acquisition. Success is about the lives that you’ve touched; your positive influence in people’s lives. Recently, I was tempted to evaluate my success by looking at the projects I was able to achieve in 2018. Guess what, I was almost disappointed. While in that state, I received an email from a lady I’ve never met, who’s above 50. She wrote me to share her testimony of how merely reading one of my posts on OBTAINING MASTERY OVER NEGATIVE EMOTIONS healed her from an emotional problem she had suffered for 50 good years. She said God indeed made me pen those words for her. She got healed after reading several books to no avail. You know what, I wrote that post since 2016. When I read this lady’s email I felt like crying, but I was also excited because a life was healed. Then the Holy Spirit told me “Son, your definition for success is different from Mine. The life of this lady and many others which have been touched by your writing is a proof of your success. Keep at what you’re doing”.

    Kay, keep touching lives irrespective of your age, keep influencing lives positively, it’s significant to God, and that’s what matters. Thank you and happy 2019

  3. Hi Kay, it’s been a very very long time. Where have you been? I trust you’re doing wonderfully great.

    You see Kay, success isn’t defined by our age, size, skin colour or even material acquisition. Success is about the lives that you’ve touched; your positive influence in people’s lives. Recently, I was tempted to evaluate my success by looking at the projects I was able to achieve in 2018. Guess what, I was almost disappointed. While in that state, I received an email from a lady I’ve never met, who’s above 50. She wrote me to share her testimony of how merely reading one of my posts on OBTAINING MASTERY OVER NEGATIVE EMOTIONS healed her from an emotional problem she had suffered for 50 good years. She said God indeed made me pen those words for her. She didn’t get healed after reading several books to no avail. You know what, I wrote that post since 2016. When I read this lady’s email I felt like crying, but I was also excited because a life was healed. Then the Holy Spirit told me “Son, your definition for success is different from Mine. The life of this lady and many others which have been touched by your writing is a proof of your success. Keep at what you’re doing”.

    Kay, keep touching lives irrespective of your age, keep influencing lives positively, it’s significant to God, and that’s what matters. Thank you and happy 2019

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