This is 32

Tomorrow,  I'll turn 32. Yes, you read that correctly, THIRTY TWO YEARS OF AGE. How did I even get here? I still perpetually think of myself as 25 and slightly older than college aged. Now I'm almost a decade older than college graduates.

Everyone says each subsequent decade is better than the rest. They say your 30s are better than your 20s and your 40s are better than your 30s. So far, my 30s have been pretty good. But there are definitely a few things I've noticed that have changed as I've aged into my third decade of life. Here are my reflections on 32.

At 32 I've started to get better at not giving a flying frisbee what people think. 

Example: The fact that I put the a powered cleaning scrub brush, fake tree, calligraphy book and air fryer on my Amazon wish (and thus birthday list). IDGAF. Yes, it's weird and not normal birthday stuff but I really don't care.

Yesterday I snapped a couple of friends and asked if it was "basic" of me to want to go to the Cheesecake Factory with M on my birthday. And then I realized, I really don't care. So what if they are a chain? Their food is good, their cheesecakes delicious and I have a gift card and coupon. BOOM. Last year, I had a My Little Pony birthday at 31 and I don't care. Truly I don't. It makes me happy and that's all that matters.

I wish I could say I've truly stopped caring what people think but that's not the case. But I do have a sneaking suspicion that since I've moved the needle so much in that direction in the last 2 years that by the time I'm 40 I'll be there. :)

At 32, I've started to care less about the "rat race" and more about my passion. 

I've begun to look at my life/career less like advancing to the next level and trying to gain status and more if I'm passionate about what I do and who I am. Am I passionate about my job/career? Am I passionate about my marriage? Am I passionate about the causes I support and volunteering? Am I passionate about my spirituality and my relationship with God? I'm slowly starting to weed out things that no longer fall in line with my passions in life. If that means finding other causes to support or volunteering elsewhere in order to follow my passion, I'll make the change.

At 32, I don't really make a huge deal out of birthdays. 

I've kind of always leaned this way but the older you get it becomes more true. Yes, my close friends and family celebrate my birthday with me. But that's really it. My day is special to me and those who know me well but everyone has a birthday. I don't celebrate my birthday month or birthday week or anything like that. I'd much rather choose to go to dinner or lunch with a few close friends than a big blowout party.

At 32, I've started moving away from some of my "ride or dies".

I don't wear cardigans as much as I used to. I just got tired of them. I've also purged my collection somewhat and stick to a few colors and fits. I've learned with those that quality trumps quantity.

I haven't shopped for clothes at Target in probably a year. Now, I will shop the heck out of some home stuff, shoes and bath stuff but as for actual clothing? No thank you. The same with Old Navy. I haven't shopped at Old Navy for many months especially since the last few things I bought were of poor quality/fit.

I'd rather do my own at-home gel manicure than pay for one in a salon. This is coming from the girl that had them every month for years!

My 32nd year of life might be even better than the last. I just know that I'm thankful to be where I am in this season of life and I'm excited for what's in store for the future!