Some of my absolute favorite people on the internet (like Lisa-Jo Baker) say that once you get to 40, you start feeling comfortable in your skin in a way you never have before. And I’m sure they’re right. You’ve lived, mostly likely, about half of your life at that point. You’ve been married awhile, your kids are a little older, and you lose some of the insecurities that can plague your younger years.
Well if my 40s are about feeling more comfortable in my own skin, I want my 30s to be about grace. Grace that I’m growing and changing as a person. Grace for the still sleep-deprived season of life. Grace for my not-so-new but not-so-seasoned marriage. Grace to try new things and mess them up. So. Much. Grace.
This got me thinking about the 30 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 30 post I wrote on my birthday last year when I turned 29. It’s more like a late 20s bucket list. And as I reflect back on this list and it’s to-do nature, I realize more and more, isn’t items checked off the to-do list, but ways we can grow and see growth, grace-filled growth.
So I’m redoing the list and changing it to a grace-filled manifesto for your 30s.
A Grace-Filled Manifesto for Your 30s
get to 2000 in my thankfulness journalFind ways to be thankful in my every day life, especially on hard days or in hard moments, when thankful things seem farthest awaytake my kids to ride the camel at the zooEnjoy more experiences with my kids, from climbing trees and building tee-pees to big trips and vacationsattend a blogging conferenceRemember that the ministry God has put in front of me is sometimes a moment-to-moment ministry of the person directly in front of me. Lord, that you could count me faithfulwrite an honest to goodness letter to someoneMake time for the people that matter most, phone calls are greatgo on an overnight trip with just my husbandContinue to make our marriage a priority and grow the time we intentionally spend togethertake my kids to the beachLearn more about what my kids are interested in and invest in those activitieseat a brand new foodTake care of myself by eating regular mealsvisit a new stateContinue to make traveling and exploring a priority even with little peoplehave a 30 days of cleaning monthUse my time in my home more diligently but also remember the priority is building a home not a housefinish reading through the Bible againContinue to read, study, and learnfind a podcast to listen toSurround myself with Godly wisdom and grace – both online and in real liferecord a podcastBe faithful to the season I am in and know my limits, where I can run and where I need to pull backwrite 3 chapters of a bookRead more. Write more. Show up.get a heart ring piercingWorry less about whether I’m young enough or cool enough to pull something offstart a minimalist wardrobeWear clothes and colors I like because they are the most me and also comfyexercise, walk, or stretch 2x a week“Self Care” is not a dirty word and when I am taking care of myself, I am taking care of others bettertell my kids something I am thankful for about them each daySpeak life into my children and use my words to build them uptell my husband something I am thankful for about him each daySpeak life into my husband and use his love language generouslydive in to a study on the women of the BibleShare and ask others what God is teaching themwork on and finish the kids baby booksBe present with my kids and work to remember the little thingsmemorize 30 Bible versesDeuteronomize my kids and walk with themhold myself to one cup of coffee before switching to teaRemember that’s it’s grace not coffee that gets me through the dayhang one load of laundry on the line each weekEnjoy things that happen at a slower pace and let my patience and capacity for them grownot get on my phone till after breakfast time with my kidsPut my phone down more and be more presentdo a family road trip to visit the grandparentsSpend time with family and use technology to our advantagesleep outside in the tent with the kidletsDo things that are outside of my comfort zonesew something with my new sewing machineTake time to teach my kids skills they will need when they’re oldermake a good loaf of sourdough breadLearn to enjoy the journey and not just the destinationdrink kombucha every weekRemember that bad habits latch in more quickly than good ones; cultivate the good onesgive my husband a 10 second kiss every dayChoose love every day
Kathy Sturgis says
This a great list and will serve me well even at age 64.
Thank You.
Leah says
Kathy, I don’t think grace has an expiration date. <3
Tiffany says
Thanks for sharing this! What good reminders! Investing in the days and moments that we have, especially with those we love and not just spending our time here! What a journey we are on! ☺️
Leah says
Tiffany, it is a journey. We always get to grow and become more of who we’re becoming. I love it.