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1/3 Life Crisis

2011 August 9
by WWGD

We have all heard of the quarter life crisis and a midlife crisis is on the horizon out there somewhere, I am sure, but lately I have been all-consumed with the 1/3 life crisis. Or more specifically, going through it.

It really started to take hold when I turned 33 a few months back (which may mean I am destined to live to 99, which would be a good thing).Β All of a sudden, something started to shift in me, my likes, my dislikes, my new likes. Something about the way I look at the world and everything in it. Something about my outlook on life…it got…sunnier. Which is profoundly mind-boggling for someone voted “most pessimistic” in high school.

I have adopted a softer, more thoughtful approach to so many things — rather than the classic fashion staples I always relied on like black, white, stripes, flats, I am suddenly taken by patterns, color, layers of jewelry. I was never a huge makeup person and still don’t cake it on, but now I put more thought and effort into it and actually enjoy the ritual each morning, instead of seeing it as a tedious step towards getting out the door. I have been driving a little slower. Not all the time, but some of the time. I chose to read TIME over Harper’s Bazaar at the nail salon the other day. I ordered yoga DVDs and decided to stop trying to torture myself into being a run-on-the-treadmill kind of girl, regardless of how many more calories it may burn. And we all know about the cooking. Out of absolutely nowhere, I have begun pouring over recipes, baking up a storm on Sunday afternoons, and taking pride in preparing a beautiful home-cooked meal for skater hubs every night…after 15 years of takeout.

I have heard so many people say that you become more confident in your 30s. You learn to accept yourself. You find out what really matters.

And I guess that is all a part of it.

But more than anything, I have found that I don’t need to be so hard and fast in life. It’s already hard and fast enough as it is.

7 Responses
  1. August 9, 2011

    Amen to that!!! Love this post! πŸ™‚

  2. Kristi permalink
    August 9, 2011

    Hey! That was nice!

    Kristi

  3. Erin permalink
    August 9, 2011

    Sure doesn’t sound like a crisis to me! πŸ™‚

  4. August 10, 2011

    Great post! And I couldn’t agree more. For me it happened around 34 or 35. (I just turned 36. It was a little scary.) I feel so much more at peace and so much more focused on emracing every moment. I’ve always loved to cook but now I really get into planning meals and dinner parties. As for fashion? I think my 20’s were all about trying to hard. Now, I think this relaxed feeling helps. I focus more on the basics, being comfortable…and ACCESSORIES! LOL! And while I still enjoy a good cardio workout, I have become a yoga and pilates reformer fanatic. I feel so much stronger and I stand a little taller. Even if I am not the size I wanted to be in my 20’s.
    I’ve also started to care less about STUFF and more about DOING. Like, there was a time when I was so focused on things (clothes, shoes, house stuff,etc.) I still like my stuff, but if I have to chose between buying something or taking a trip? I’ll take the trip!
    I am so glad to have found your blog and I am really enjoying it.
    Best,
    Tina

    • August 10, 2011

      Thanks so much for the feedback! I love seeing that everyone is in the same reflective boat…

  5. October 14, 2011

    Love this. You are so right and it really changes in your 30s, for the better. If you are interested in writing a guest post on my blog as to why you love your 30s, let me know. mythirtyspot at gmail dot com
    πŸ™‚

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