My name is Maria and I am turning 30 years old today. I cannot believe this day is actually, finally – if I dare to say, here. Is it weird that I, in fact, am happy getting older?

I have always had this feeling for what would happen(or not) when I turn a specific number of years.

In my teens, I remember having a sort of anxiety feeling about what the next year would bring – school, boys ,or simply a list of what I should be achieving according to people’s standards.

In my early twenties, and, perhaps, thanks to traveling I sort of figured that all I want for my birthday(if possible) is to spend a day on the beach, and the rest of the year will figure out itself, sort of go with the flow. I should note that it was the time when I would hop on job openings with no clear direction or actual goal in the end.

In my late twenties, I have finally understood that the number and list of achievements that has to come with it mean nothing. What truly matters is the happiness that comes with that new number. That is when I let myself slow down, pause and at least try to figure out who I am and what I want to do and what I like.

And somehow, the big 3-0 have always excited me. Weird, right? In fact, I don’t think I have ever felt this truly happy about my birthday. This time around I am just excited about entering sort of a new chapter, let’s call it “the big 3.0”, and see what it holds for me. 

So what are the goals I set myself one might ask? Well, first I want to focus on happiness. You see, we all got 24 hours in a day, and we all can choose what we want to do, or how we want to feel those 24 hours. For me, happiness comes first. I just want to live a happy and fulfilled life. I am simply manifesting to every day wake up as happy as possible. And perhaps, also a new car and a house. Bring it on!

Show up for me and us. I just want to live the best of my ability – show up for my happiness at work and home, and bring happiness to my kids and family.

Forever place. Nothing big, one floor, big windows, decent size rooms and kitchen, and a big garden – I want us to have a new place to settle as a family of 7 (5 + 2 cats). Somewhere near the coastline, surrounded by bougainvillea and the chirping of cicadas. Simply put, as a kid, living in the north of Ukraine, I could see houses like that only in magazines, or in foreign movies. And now living surrounded by them makes my dream feel more attainable, and words like “I wish I would…” turns into manifesting “I am going to, I will…!”

I have no doubt that the next 10 years are here to remember. Cheers to the first day of the big 3.0!