Turning Thirty Three

It is my birthday today, the third of March, the third of the third, and I am 33. Ever since I can remember I have wanted to be thirty-three, 3 is my lucky number and I decided at a very young age that 33 was the age to be. I was right, I am absolutely loving being in my thirties so far and I think this year is going to be the best yet.

I decided at the beginning of the year that I was going to push myself to do bigger and better things, to take more chances and to make a conscious effort to say yes to opportunities that come my way. So far I am doing well and I think the universe knows that I am feeling positive as it is rewarding me with some pretty awesome stuff, things that I could have only dreamed of a couple of years ago. As I’ve sat down to write this I have just finished a mini photoshoot with Wills, a project that makes up a small part of a larger campaign for a freelance job that I am so so excited to be doing right now – I never imagined this would be my job!

My work aside, I am loving being in my thirties for so many reasons. I am a mother, something I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to call myself. I have three amazing little people who love me unconditionally and that is all I ever wanted. As a child I only ever wanted to be a mummy, and for someone to love me (all a bit Notting Hill, girl standing in front of a boy….) and I have achieved it. I am one lucky lady indeed.

When I look back to my teens I feel so sad, I was so unhappy for the majority of that decade. I hated myself and never thought I would ever find anyone to love me – that was what I felt would make everything better. I did indeed find a man to love me but through my 20’s I soon realised that having a boyfriend or a husband did not make me love myself, I needed to be happy with who I was to be able to do that.

Having children has done two things; it has made me hit real lows – feeling like a complete slob who didn’t care whether my hair was washed or not, but it has also brought moments of clarity – realising that my body is amazing having given birth to 3 beautiful babies. I learned to love my body a couple of years ago but it was only towards the end of last year that I finally felt confident in who I was as a person. I wasted over a decade hating who I was but now into my thirties I am finally happy – it is an amazing feeling.

Plans for my thirty third year

I feel quite contented with my lot in life, I have everything I ever wanted and with Wills joining our family last year we are now complete. My plan for the year, and for every year after, is to enjoy my family. Time passes so quickly and there are some days where I feel all I’ve done is rush around like a headless chicken – failing to appreciate my children and the moments we share as a family. I want to slow down, take time to enjoy those moments and make more time to create more of those moments.

I also want to continue making our house a home. We have owned our own house for the last 10 years but I have never really thought of it as a home. I think it is because to me, it is not a dream house and I have been holding out for that. Unfortunately we will not be moving into a dream home unless we rob a bank or win the lottery, so I need to face reality and make the best out of what we do have. My favourite room in the house is my hallway (I still need to do a little tour of that for you actually) and it is because I have put my own stamp on it. I need to do that in every room, make it a home to be proud of.

More than anything though, I want to stay happy. I want to continue to be myself and be happy in my own skin. I have found a style I am happy with and I have a job that I absolutely love, three children that make me so proud and I am married to my best friend. There’s not much more a girl could ask for is there?