Today I turned thirty. I celebrated my thirtieth birthday with my parents and kept it low-key. I’m not a party person, so that was ideal for me. 🎂
Age doesn’t define who you are. Age doesn’t dictate how you should live. Age is a process of growing and discovering yourself, not measured in numbers or dates.
I have grown so much over the past ten years. My reaction to turning 20 was to panic and freak out. Turning 30 doesn’t feel like that big of a deal. My perspective has really changed a lot. There were times when I thought I should be living my life a specific way, adhering to many societal norms. You can’t measure yourself or your circumstances to other people, you can only try to live your own way. This was helped by understanding many of my underlying mental health problems. My brain operates a different way, and that’s cool. ☺️
My parents surprised me with an amazing gift. A Canon 100mm macro lens. So much. excite 💖I have dreamed of a macro lens for a long time. Macro photography is my favourite kind and I look forward to taking a lot of different closeups soon! 📷
Here are a few photos I took today.
You can view them all on my Flickr.
So I may be thirty and live at home with my parents. So I may be thirty and studying for a bachelor’s degree. So I may be thirty and have difficulty socialising with other people. So I may be thirty and have a noodle brain (yeah, it’s a technical term haha). I’m thirty and I am growing as a person and creative being. I’m thirty and I am finally starting to accept myself for who I am.
I plan to have a full recap of my 30 before 30 next week. While I may not have completed all the items, I am still proud of the ones I did!
Note to self: If you are reading this and it has been another ten years, I hope you are approaching your 40s with the same enthusiasm. I hope your life has been positive and you have continued to write and illustrate many books. Most importantly I hope you are still learning and developing and always looking for positive influences. 🕊️
💬 Thirty Questions*
- How do you feel about your birthdays?
- What is your favourite kind of photography?
- What do you hope to achieve in the next year?
* (But only three… 🐢)
45 Responses
Happy Birthday! I love the photos you’ve started taking already 🙂
I have to admit I did freak out when I turned 30. I thought of all the things I hadn’t achieved through my 20’s and that I had wasted so much time and gotten no where. Since then though I feel like things have turned around quite a bit. While I don’t really know where my path will lead me I have been able to accomplish a lot in the last few years since turning 30.
My favourite kind of photography is definitely astrophotography, it really is amazing what a camera can see in the dark! If I had more patience and knowledge with cameras (and areas with less light pollution) I’d probably do it more often.
I’m not much of a goal oriented person. I tend to just feel disappointed when I don’t meet them rather than striving to improve so I usually don’t set specific goals. That being said this year I hope to get my licence (which I did last week!), get my wisdom teeth out (eek), get invisalign (reliant on the wisdom teeth though), lose more weight (10kg down so far!) and continue on my laser hair removal adventure (I think I might be obsessed). Somehow this year everything I’m wanting to do is very much about me physically (other than the licence). I’m not sure how it came about but they were just things I wanted to do.
Maybe I can learn a new hobby or two along the way as well 😛
I hope you enjoyed the day and also the last few hours of it 🙂
Thank you. 😀 I am really amazed at any form of night photography. The things people are able to capture are so good. You have been doing a lot already and should be really proud. I am sure you could pick up a few hobbies. 😀
Happy birthday! Hope you have a good one :blush:
I love how you’re facing turning 30 positively, which is how it should be no matter what age we’re turning into.
I’m happy for you that you got that macro lens you’ve always wanted! Your photos are beautiful <3
My birthday isn't that special for me because I don't really feel anything new, or that I've changed. Nevertheless, I'm still thankful to live another year.
I love artistic and scenic photography. I love for photos that are well-composed.
My goal in the next year is to travel abroad and have a job that I'm passionate about.
Thank you. :blush: I hope you are able to travel and find a job that you really love. :love:
Happy Birthday! Macro lenses are the best, I love seeing all the detail in subjects close up, and in such sharpness too! You’re going to love it.
The most liberating thing for me was just letting go of old belief systems and ideals of what I “should” be doing at a certain age and just live the life I want. I was so unhappy before and so lost, but as soon as I ditched all that and removed or limited toxic people with those beliefs my life became the best it ever was! You are on the right path because it’s your path 🙂 To the next 10 years!
That’s really good you were able to find a positive direction. 🙂
Happy birthday, Kya! I feel you’re taking this well! When I turned thirty, I didn’t panic, per se, but I did bemoan the fact that I’ve grown so much older.
Your photos are lovely! That’s a fantastic present 🙂 Btw, low-key birthdays are the best! I don’t need or want to party, too!
I’m glad you accept yourself! We all do compare ourselves to other’s, but what’s more important is how we compare ourselves to our past selves! As long as we made some progress from our past selves, that’s all it should matter. I feel that you’ve accomplished a lot in the few years I’ve known you ^^
Thank you so much. :love:
Blog hop!
Happy happy birthday! 😀
I still have 3 more years but I’m thinking of the things I really have to do before and after turning 30 😀 Let’s enjoy life to the fullest! and love your shots <3 <3 <3
Thank you! :blush:
Happy Birthday, Kya! I feel the same way about my age. The older I got, the less I cared about the number. (Also, the more I forgot what my age actually was, haha.) Having a low-key birthday with your parents sounds great 🙂 Mine is in a couple days (the 13th), and I also don’t plan to do much for it. I think my husband is going to treat me to dinner, and that’s it.
That’s awesome that your parents got you the 100mm macro! I haven’t used that one yet, but I’ve heard it’s great. I already love what you’ve done with it! As for my favorite kind of photography, it’s probably photoshoots, especially cosplay ones. They’re really fun to get creative with!
Thank you. I really love the new lens. I am still learning that I am able to get closer to things than I think! >D<
NOOOOOODLE brain! 🍜 Happy belated birthday, Kya. ❤️ I am so overwhelmed with joy reading about your outlook on life. I know it has been rough for you sometimes and things like living with parents is not something people “usually” do at the age of 30, but you still persist and you still do what you love, not to mention, with a loving family like yours, why wouldn’t you live with them? Right?! 😄💖
You are only as old as you feel. And I have no doubts that you feel much younger than 30.
That lens is insaaaane, the photos look radical! Eeeeeee.
I have always loved taking photos of nature and plants. Not so much landscapes (I’m not good at those). You know I love concert photography, but since falling out of step with it, it’s been hard to get back into it. I’ve been thinking of getting into taking fashion photos myself, of other people, since I enjoy having photos taken of me. 😆
Lately, thinking about my age, 25 seems a lot older than I thought. But I think it’s just a mind trick. I shouldn’t see age as anything more than a number.
That would be so awesome to see the fashion photography. I really love the photos you take, so any subject would be brilliant. 😀
Birthdays feel like ordinary days for me. When I was a kid, I get excited for my own birthday parties though. Haha. Right now, I don’t really “count” how many years I have.
Macros are also my favorite shooting style. The focus and the background blur is just magical. It’s even more amazing if it’s “bokeh”.
Wonderful shots you got there. I am hoping that one day, I’ll be able to have money saved for a mirrorless camera.
Happy Birthday.
Thank you. :blush:
Happy (belated) birthday, Kya! Those photos of the succulents are super gorgeous! And I’m loving this enthusiasm as you enter your 30s – we all go at different paces so who cares if you’re living at home at 30? Or working on your degree? The important thing is that you do things for YOU and you’re happy as hell doing them! *snaps fingers in the air*
☼ cabin twenty-four
Thank you so much and that is so true. 😀
Happy belated birthday! The macro lens produced some really nice pictures. That’s great that you’re enjoying your gift.
I can imagine that you’ve grown a lot over the past 10 years! 10 years is a lot of time and it seems like you’re comfortable with where you’re at right now. I agree that you shouldn’t compare yourself to other people. We all have different paces in life and it’s OK to try and discover where you’re at, even at the age of 30 or even later than that.
Excited to read your 30 before 30 post!
Thank you. :love:
Happy birthday! 😀 You are so right in that you should live at your own pace, doing what is right for you. We’re all different, with different strengths and weaknesses, so comparing our own lives to the lives of other people is pointless. The only person you can really compete with is yourself, and it sounds like you are developing a very healthy and mature outlook on your life. 🙂
I had a minor crisis about turning 25, I remember feeling SO OLD then. Omg, haha! 29 was a bit rough too as I was stressing about it being my last year as a 20-something. Turning 30 was actually a bit of an anticlimax, when it finally happened I had already gotten all the worrying out of my system and didn’t care at all.
Nowadays I’m pretty chill about birthdays in general. If I ever have another age-related crisis I suspect it won’t be until I turn 39 😛
Oh, and I don’t know anything about cameras, but the photos are gorgeous! :love: The last one especially, it has a nice sense of depth.
Thank you so much. 😀 It’s great that you got the worrying out of your system. Not so good that it was a challenge at those earlier ages. For some random reason, I always think you are into photography. #oops
Welcome to being 30! I didn’t feel much different when I changed to 30 in August. It was just hard to say goodbye to the 20s. I hate all the young guys at my job who think 30 is old. I’m like, watch it! I was your age when I started here too! lol XD
That is an awesome gift! Those picture look really nice too. ♥
Thank you. Hahaha, 30 is certainly not old. 😀
Happy Belated Birthday! I didn’t really celebrate my birthday either. I would have if the people I care about didn’t live all over the country. I was a little disappointed that my boyfriend didn’t throw me a party actually, because I felt like 30 was a big birthday. But that was almost two years ago so I guess I should leave it in the past now.
I don’t really think I have a fav. kind of photography. I usually take most of my pictures of nature and of festivals. I have a hard time taking pictures of people because I feel like I am violating their privacy.
In the next year I hope to feel content with where I live and the people I have surrounding me. I currently feel a little out of place. Like I can’t settle where I am.
I know what you mean about taking photographs of people. It’s something I am not comfortable with unless I ask them. I am usually too shy to ask, so I rarely take photos of people. n’D
Happy birthday Kya! I turned 20 on March 13th, so we’re quite close (and yet very far apart). 😛
I love my birthdays, but I like to keep them lowkey as well. I just went to dinner with my parents and had a relaxing evening. This weekend my friend is having a St. Patrick’s Day/birthday for me party, but even then I’m hoping not too many people are like BIRTHDAY!!! because I prefer things quiet. It was a “surprise” party though, ha.
Hm…photography of cities and people, I think. It’s so fascinating to freeze a busy moment in the middle of a city. So many people going going going, and then frozen for just a second. Some of my favorite photos are city photographs!
Oh, so many things. But mostly – personal success. I want to look back on my 20th year and feel like I accomplished goals I set for myself, even if I didn’t set them all in the beginning or purposefully set them at all.
Happy belated birthday to you! 😀 I hope your birthday party was a lot of fun. 😀
I’m 30…31 now lol I forget how old I am sometimes! Happy birthday! The camera takes some amazing shots – what an awesome gift!!!
Happy Birthday Kya!!!! <3 <3
Thank you! :love:
Happy 30th, Kya! 🙂
It was so thoughtful of your parents to give you a gift you’ve always wanted! You took lovely photos already!
Hmm, I don’t celebrate birthdays to be honest, just because I feel like doing so makes me seem entitled. I just see birthdays as markers that I’m turning another year old, but I don’t make a big deal out of it. 😀
Thank you. :love: I can understand what you mean. nVn
Happy birthday again. 🙂
Thank you! 👿
A belated happy birthday!
I love your mindset with age and stuff! More people need to listen to that including myself!
And what a cool gift! Those photos are awesome!
Thank you! :blush:
Wow, nice! I have a macro lens too and it is a fun and great lens!
That’s really cool that you have one as well! :love:
Belated happy birthday, Kya! I agree with the quote you have above 🙂 I will be looking forward to your 30 before 30 recap 🙂 I want to create my own but I might be disappointed that I won’t be able to complete all so I made 3 before 30 instead which are like my major goals. 🙂
Thank you. It can be a little scary if you do create many goals. It doesn’t always have to be about doing all of them or trying to prove something. Just doing the things you want too or making progress with them can be really rewarding. :love:
Happy belated birthday, Kya! Glad that you’re taking turning 30 in a good perspective. We’re all different people and it’s fine to think and act differently. Your macro lens is so cool! I love how the pictures turned out! I’m still trying to learn different photography techniques. I’m finally embracing the “out of focus” feel.
It’s okay to be in the position you’re at as long as you’re happy about it. Positivity will bring you forward :).
Thank you so much! :*3
Happy birthday! 30 is still very young. I’m 43. owo
I still celebrate birthdays and will continue doing that until I die because especially post 60 you should be happy about making it another year! (palliative care nurse speaking here, seen too many people pass away too soon)
I love your photos!!! Especially the blueish flower photo. I love photography, and especially macro and street photography. I have a special love for photographing spiders. 🙂
Thank you. 43 is not old either! Working in your area, you would certainly have a unique perspective on ageing. It would be very hard to see people that are reaching the end of their life. Hopefully there is positives, in embracing the moments you have. 🙂