"Life Begins at 30"

Today is June 29th and you know what that means. My birthday is just a few days away. This year, I'm turning 30.

My darling Kingsley and I were chatting the other day:

Me: Pook, I'm not ready to turn 30.

Him: Pook, life begins at 30.

That's the perspective I'm going to take. Kingsley is great at encouraging me and I'm going to hop on the "Celebrate 30!" bandwagon. To do so, I'd like to record my accomplishments in my 20s. This is more for my benefit than yours but thanks for humoring me.

I was 20 when I landed my first TV job in Hazard, Kentucky at WYMT. I was thrilled to have a full-time news anchor position and that was the job where I learned to shoot my own stories and edit them. At 22, I worked for WATE in Knoxville as night side reporter and weekend evening anchor. Then, at age 24 I got a job as morning reporter, weekend morning anchor in market 33, Cincinnati, Ohio. Landing a job at a larger market (WKRC) at such a young age has been my greatest television news career accomplishment thus far. While working in Cincinnati, I was making a fantastic salary and was too flashy for my own good. I owned a Lexus in my 20s. The joys of singledom and no kids = extra money for things. But then at 26 I started itching for something more. Cue my idea for travel and higher education.

With 3 suitcases, savings and student loans I got on a plane to London. While there, I traveled to France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, South Africa, Holland and Denmark. I rode the canals of Venice, stood along the Seine in Paris and drank from the fountain of youth in Lisbon. I even survived cage diving with Great White sharks off the coast of Gansbaai.

At 27, I met my husband, Kingsley and fell in love. I also earned my Master's degree and through higher education, I examined other cultures, customs, politics and religions. World travel changed my religion and politics in the most exceptional ways in my 20s.

In my 20s, I became even better friends with my parents and brother and love the chance to spend time with them. I won awards for news stories and also became a published writer in my 20s. I played a small part on the big screen in a mainstream movie, State of Play. And the biggie: I became a wife at age 29! I'm also proud to say in my late 20s, I'm in better shape than my early 20s. I dropped 2 sizes more than a year ago and have kept the weight off with a different lifestyle of eating. (It feels so good to be thin! There, I said it. It isn't easy and takes extreme self discipline - so I will take this one opportunity in celebration of 30th and say - I like my body.)

I suffered heartache, heartbreak, sadness beyond belief, depression, anger, despair, hatred and loss. I also genuinely loved others, laughed out loud, dreamed big, met goals, made life-long friends, took chances and felt exhilaration - just being alive.

Advice for folks in their 20s? Don't stress over the small things and really, truly try to learn what you want and need to be happy - then pursue it. Life is too short to be on a campaign to please others.

My goals for my 30s include getting my husband over here on our finalized Visa, paying off all debt, becoming a first-time home buyer, investing time and energy in continued world travel, and marching on with my career goals, however they might change in this age of developing media. I also want to publish a book, use my Spanish (6 years of study) and learn to play the piano. If you know me in a few years, please ask me how the goals are coming on. :)