"The End of a Decade, But the Start of an Age"

Yes, I took the title from Taylor Swift (again!) because honestly, who else puts my feelings into words so perfectly? If you’re reading this, you probably know by now that I just turned thirty. Thirty! It’s a weirdly monumental number, and in a way, it feels like I've stepped into a whole new era.

When I look back, this blog has been my little slice of the internet for 12 years. I started it as a teenager, pouring my thoughts into these posts, sometimes with big dreams and sometimes with the typical confusion and angst of youth. But now, as I step into this new decade, I’m reflecting on all that’s changed—and all that’s still the same. 

It's funny how the things I loved back then shaped me, yet they’re not necessarily the things I keep close today. Back then, my world revolved around Twilight, The Vampire Diaries, and One Direction. Now, those loves have evolved: from One Direction to BTS, from DC comics to Marvel movies. And, yes, from being a total sap for classic romance movies to appreciating rom-coms—because maybe I’ve learned to laugh a little more at myself and take myself a little less seriously!

You know, in all the feel-good movies I adored growing up, the big, magical 3-0 was this turning point: it’s the age when everything was supposed to click. The perfect job, the tight-knit friend group, the happy family, the gorgeous home, and, of course, the ultimate love story. Think 13 Going on 30, Sixteen Candles, and every other classic that promised happiness was just a birthday away.

But here’s what I didn’t expect: I do feel more grounded. My twenties were a rollercoaster of self-discovery, hard lessons, and a lot of trial and error. Now, entering my thirties, I’m more sure of myself, more confident in my skin, and more determined to live on my own terms. I still carry that “hopeless romantic” heart, but it’s now wrapped in a clarity about what I want from life and a fearlessness about going after it.

This milestone birthday isn’t scary like I thought it might be. Instead, it feels like a beginning—a fresh chapter where I get to take all the lessons I’ve learned and all the strength I’ve gained and build the life I truly want. I’m embracing this era not with the pressure of picture-perfect expectations from the movies, but with a vision of what "picture perfect" means to me.

I know now that a perfect life doesn’t have to look a certain way—it can be crafted in my own way, by my own rules. I’m looking forward to filling this new chapter with the kind of joy, love, and adventure that feels right to me, even if it doesn’t fit the usual script. It’s my version of picture perfect, and that’s more than enough.