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July 25, 2003

361 days later

I turn 31 in four days.

The difference between the approach to the 31st birthday and the 30th birthday is profound.

Last year, I viewed my birthday as a deadline. This year, it feels more like a cool milestone.

I remember when I was freaking out about hitting my 30s. I talked with one of my friends who was in her late 30s, and she told me, "Don't obsess about this too much, Wil. Your 30s are so much better than your 20s. Your 20s are spent gathering information about your world and yourself, and your 30s are spent enjoying the benefits of that information."

She was totally right. So far, my 30s have been amazing. Here's a list of seven things I'm grateful for -- things I've accomplished in my 30s:

1. I accepted that I'll never be bigger than Star Trek or Stand By Me, and discovered that that's not a bad thing at all.


2. I had two submissions accepted at slashdot.


3. Anne and I walked in the Avon 3*Day. You guys who read my site contributed over 17,000 dollars to our cause. I am confident that we've made a difference in the lives of people we'll never meet.


4. I crossed several things off my wishlist: I published a book, I recorded a voice in a video game, and I was interviewed for the Onion A / V club.


5. I finally learned how to put top spin on a ping pong ball. Look out, Winona. i will pwn joo.


6. I achieved escape velocity from TVSWILWHEATON(I hate that guy).


7. I took charge of my life.

Most of my friends are between 27 and 34, and we're all happy and successful in various ways. The one thing we have in common is that we've all made our own success. None of us has climbed a corporate ladder, or played a Hollywood Game to get where we are.

And we're all happy.

So if anyone reading this is nearing 30, and freaking out like I was, allow me to impart something I've learned in the last year: it's not bad at all. So quit worrying, and enjoy the ride.

And don't forget to mark your very first, "Those damn kids today" moment. You'll want to remember that.

Before I go, I want to apologize to anyone who was offended by my entry yesterday. You should only suck it if you're into sucking it. Everyone else, though, should certainly suck it, because suck it is the catchphrase that's sweeping the nation. It's what all the cool kids are doing these days.

Posted by wil at July 25, 2003 12:50 PM

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Listed below are links to weblogs that reference 361 days later:

» Acting our age from It's what I am doing
I totally get what Wil is saying here. Having just turned 31 myself a short(ish) while ago, might be fun to look back at what I accomplised in the past year, as a much-needed ego boost after a weary week... [Read More]

Tracked on July 25, 2003 02:47 PM

» Acting our age from It's what I am doing
I totally get what Wil is saying here. Having just turned 31 myself a short(ish) while ago, might be fun to look back at what I accomplised in the past year, as a much-needed ego boost after a weary week... [Read More]

Tracked on July 25, 2003 02:47 PM

» What I'm Reading from Up For Anything
There's some great stuff being written in the blogosphere right now. Here... see what I mean!... [Read More]

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» Wil Wheaton and I almost share a b-day from Much Throwing About of Brains
So it looks as if I almost share a birthday with Wil Wheaton (we're about a week apart). I have to say that I concur. I may not be as happy and successful as I'd like to be yet. But... [Read More]

Tracked on July 26, 2003 04:02 PM

» Acting our age from Jodie Blog - It's what I'm doing
I totally get what Wil is saying here. Having just turned 31 myself a short(ish) while ago, might be fun to look back at what I accomplised in the past year, as a much-needed ego boost after a weary week... [Read More]

Tracked on June 27, 2004 11:28 AM