I was decidedly nervous about turning 30. Had I lived enough in my 20s to take on my 30s? Did I still act and dress like a 20-year old? Was I ready for 30? Sure, there’s a chance I may be the only person in the universe to put so much thought into turning 30 but I highly doubt it. One of the most important questions I had to ask myself was whether or not I had done everything I wanted to do before I turned 30. And the answer was…sort of.

I successfully pursued a college education so I get a check mark in the ‘attain college degree’ box. Since I’ve traveled to New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Thailand, England, Scotland, France, Italy and Germany in my 20s, I can easily mark off the ‘travel thoroughly’ box. I started a job in the financial industry that turned into an impressive career before the market fiasco of 2008…so ‘find a career‘ check. I fell in love with my best friend and married him two days before my 30th birthday, so phew…’marry soul-mate‘ box checked.

I’ve jet-boated, bungee-jumped, sky-dived and attended a ridiculous number of social gatherings. I did not get the opportunity to get a makeover and reinvent my look. My plans for children in my twenties did not take off but a bitter end to a relationship saw me take sole custody of an adorable Yorkie…so quasi-check? I’ve lost old friends and gained new ones, moved from coast to coast and even somewhere in the middle, and I’ve survived the drama, the pain and all of the lessons life opted to teach me in that whirlwind decade.

Am I satisfied with my 20s? I think so. I’ve had a lot of good and some pretty bad…but all in all, I’ve got a phenomenal setup for my 30s. I will get the opportunity for a makeover of both myself and my wardrobe (out with the sweatpants 20s…in with the graceful 30s) and I will enjoy every second of my newly-married life. It doesn’t get any better than marrying your best friend, does it? Unless your name is Catherine, of course, and you happen to fall in love with a handsome prince in college whom you’ll eventually marry in an absolutely gorgeous wedding ceremony. But that’s a post for an entirely different day…