Kids, as my *gasp* 31^st birthday edged closer in 2016, I started reflecting on what being 30 meant to me and realised that I actually loved it.

I know that I freaked out pretty badly about my milestone age the year before, but by the winter of 2016, I had chilled the f*** out long enough to appreciate it.

Here are 30 things I learnt about myself and life after turning 30:

1. I have no more f***s to give and it’s ok:

No, really. Before 30, I would be stressed about what people thought of me and whether they’d accept me for the weirdo I was.

After 30, I was like “well, f*** a f***ing zombie, if you don’t like me, screw you!” I liked me:the dressing like a hobo writer; dance in the car and the supermarket; can’t be bothered to even pretend to like people I should me and that was all that mattered.

2. No was my new favourite word:

As in “No, I am not attending a family function where I have to pretend the perpetually divorced aunt’s comments about my inability to land a man doesn’t hurt my feelings” or “No, I really don’t want to pay for your mother’s birthday cake just because you’re broke AF and didn’t plan ahead”.

I especially loved saying Hell to the f*** no when friends, acquaintances and potential dates tried to talk me into going to places or doing things because it was more convenient for them.

My comfort, after 30, came first… f*** the rest!

3. Here are my boundaries, now f*** off:

So-called friends who couldn’t deal with not being the centre of my universe whilst I was in the middle of taking care of my dying grandfather and dedicating myself to passion projects or clients who contacted me after hours were not so graciously told where to f*** off to because I have boundaries.

4. Staying home was my new favourite past time:

Time was when I’d be out there with the most narcissistic of socialites, snapping pics on red carpets and attending every event or show opening under the goddamn sun.

By 2016, I was tired of the constant fake behaviour and forced friendships with so-called celebrities so I found new events (GOT premieres) and red carpets (my bedroom’s) to frequent.

Shutting myself in my apartment for at least one day a weekend where I didn’t have to go out at all because it was too peopley out there was how I held onto my sanity during all of the adulting I had to do.

5. Holding my tongue was no longer an option:

I learnt to be blunt AF because it was the only way people would understand me when I kept saying no (see point 2).

My entire life, I was always worried about protecting other people’s feelings and not daring to retaliate when they hurt mine.

New me didn’t have such qualms. If you were a guy wasting my time with small talk about the weather or asking me to send you boob pics on dating sites, I told you exactly where to stick your small member and not ever f***ing contact me again.

If you were a client who wanted me to rise at the crack of dawn to fill in for you because you were going away for the weekend, I told you where to get off on the bullshit train.

Biting my tongue to keep the peace was no longer my modus operandi.

6. I am a cosplaying freak:

Who loves nothing more than donning tights and a cape and showing off at events to other geeks.

From Wonder Woman to Hermione Granger and Khaleesi/Melisandre, I loved rocking a wig, a latex suit and accessories, alongside your aunts and Spirit Mom.

7. Love is being completely me with people I love:

Your aunts Sam and Mishka and your godparents Leo, Tendai and Leon are the only five people in Year 30 that I felt completely at ease with.

They loved me when I was crabby and happy over silly things; they let me cry when I needed to or just be quiet when I couldn’t put into words the things that hurt me and they weren’t afraid to call me out on my crap when they needed to.

8. Feeling guilty is a waste of time:

So I finished yet another tub of Nutella without using it for the pancakes I actually bought it for… so freaking what?! Did anyone die? No? Then, shut up, Brain, and just let me enjoy my chocolate high right now.

Ditto for not finishing blogs, reports etc for work when I was ill. I was delirious on medication and sleep deprived, for Drogon’s sake, it’s not like the company would fall apart without me!

9. I am worth showing up for:

Old friends who bailed last minute on plans and dates who stood me up were no longer worth my tears.

Spending time with me, especially when I had to rearrange shit so I could see them, was a f***ing privilege. If they couldn’t be bothered to show up, I wouldn’t be bothered to answer calls and texts in future.

10. I will not settle for mediocrity:

I deserved the very best I could give myself – from a future partner to what I ate and who I spent my time with to where I travelled to –  so if those things were not up to par, they had to go.

We are so focused on making sure everyone else (family, friends, significant others etc) is happy and getting what they deserved but what about ourselves?

In 2016, I made myself my priority – f*** anyone who thought that was selfish!

11. It’s never too late to do anything:

Like read the Harry Potter book series for the first time (yes, I know, considering I saw all the movies and worked in magic, I should have done that yonks ago but whatever!)

12. If I don’t know how to do something, I’ll ask Google:

Dudes, what I knew about being an executor of an estate or how to process a medical aid claim back was dismal. Being an adult doesn’t come with an instruction manual so thank the Seven for Google!

13. Eating breakfast for supper is ok:

As a kid, I would laugh at my Dad and your Aunt Sam for tucking into a bowl of Kellogg’s at 6pm but I came to appreciate the wonders of a good scrambled egg or waffle at supper time.

14. Life is short, do shit that scares you:

Like training for and running a 10km race or lasting five minutes in a paint ball game (I am NEVER doing that again!)

15. Grief broke me but I’d survive:

Losing your great-grandfather at times felt like a faded dream but also hit me like a truck every few days for most of 2016.

I felt broken and strangely well-put together at the same time. I cried at the most inappropriate times, like being surrounded by 13 000 people at a public running event or went for weeks without shedding a tear because I was so busy organising his affairs.

I laughed at his multiple memorials because he would have loved seeing his entire family together for once.

There is no rhyme, reason or quick fix to grief and I had to learn how to be patient with myself until I got to the other side.

16. Being afraid and insecure are realities of adulthood:

Everyone experiences it – I felt immensely better when I read my media sister Nadia Krige’s blog post on the subject.

No one knows what the f*** they’re doing and we need to stop judging each other about it.

17. Staying in my PJs all day is rad:

Yup, one day a weekend, I literally stayed in my owl patterned onesie all day because who cared?

Once, I even ventured down to Gardens Centre in my PJs and no one raised an eyebrow.

Of course, this also got me chatted up in the worst way at a pharmacy … sigh.

18. I can’t take money with me when I die, so I spend it:

I splurged on spa days at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel with your Nan and went to several 3D movies with Leo a month.

I did body shots at Beefcakes; applied for loans to go to Mauritius and bought multiple cosplay costumes because I could. Life was for the damn living!

19. I can let it go:

That grudge I have against the boy who broke my heart; the too tight dress from 2007 I’ll never fit into again and the paperwork of things I sold eons ago – I’ve cleared them out.

The awesome Bennii was a HUGE inspiration to me in this regard. I watched her give away sporting equipment she didn’t need; disperse advice freely or say exactly what she was thinking and it made so much sense to me.

Cleansing yourself emotionally, mentally and physically is important so be like Frozen’s Elsa:

 

20. I will not compete for anyone’s time or affection:

Throughout my childhood and early adulthood, people, especially family members would compare me to my siblings or cousins, making me feel like I had to compete for their affection because I wasn’t good enough.

That belief spilled over into my friendships and working relationships. By 30, I realised that this shit had to come to an end and it started with me.

I was f***ing awesome just as I was – I didn’t need to be more like anyone else. Again, if you didn’t love or appreciate me for who I was, f*** you!

21. I hate SMS texting:

I also hate people who use it. If you are over 18 and writing lyk dis, I will f***ing disown you.

22. I detest selfie sticks and their users:

Unless you’re Zoolander and Hansel – then let’s do a #selfiestickselfie and can Alexander Skarsgard be in it before I lure him away for a long, LONG stay in my love dungeon?!

23. I can’t party like a 22-year-old anymore:

Dear gods of Westeros, my liver roared its dissatisfaction at being used as a chemical waste ground the minute I turned 30 and I couldn’t manage more than one glass of bubbly or four watered down cocktails on a night out.

Gone were the days of bar-hopping with Tendai and Leon down Long Street …a damn shame!

24. I can still shake what Soraya gave me:

Sure, I couldn’t down shots anymore but man, could I still dance like no one was watching!

Clubbing occasionally whilst sober or you know, giving everyone in my local Spar a show by dancing in the aisles still felt really, really good as I got older.

25. I do not have to pretend to like every theatre show or movie I’ve seen:

Man, I wish I had learnt this earlier so I could get some hours of my life back.

26. I love babies, children and animals:

It is other adults I have an issue with.  Seriously, if people could just keep their unwanted opinions, their filthy habits and oversharing to themselves, that would be great.

27. I adore food:

I will eat anything and everything and I will not feel guilty about it.

If you are going to be one of those annoying as all hell women who talk about how many calories are in curly fries, I will silence you with a death stare or get up from the table and let you eat your cardboard in peace.

28. Spending time with my family and friends is more important than anything else:

I don’t care if there is a conference or launch happening that simply everyone has to be at – I am not everyone and the people of my heart come first.

Tag me in shit if you have to and I might retweet, repost or like it but my must-attend moment is where my tribe is.

29. Equally important is me time:

Even Wonder Woman needs a break from everyone else’s troubles and to find her centre. When I am having me time, I am not doing nothing, I am being me.

30. Age ain’t nothing but a number:

Aaliyah was right (though she may have been referring to something else!).

Age is a state of mind – at 30, I felt more in tune with my 18-year-old self and rediscovered the values I had as a teenager. When applied to my adult self, those ideals made life really simple for me and I was far happier for it.

Bring it on, 31!