..And the 20s are gone..!

Today I turn 30!

Talking to my Mom on the phone, she told me to check my e-mail, as they sent me an e-card...Her words were so touching: This is a very special Birthday to you, because it is the first one where your duaghter will smile at you, and while she cannot yet speak, we are sure she is thinking "My lovely Mommy, I am so glad God sent me to you, and you are the bestt Mommy I could have ever asked for".
I remember being little and writing Birthday and Christmas cards to everybody. The agreement was the following: My little sister was always better with the artistic part, while I was always better with words. So, I would write the words and she would "decorate" the cards! My Mom would provide us with paper, scissors, glue and crayons....great example of teamwork, learned early on!
Yesterday, while sitting in the car in the morning it hit me...this is the last time/day that I will be in my 20s!!! My 20s are done! I will never be a 20-something again! I got a bit emotional about it. But then I thought about them. I thought about my 20s and ALL that I've done, all where I've been, all people I've met, all jobs I've worked, Colleges I've attended and graduated from.....

OK, fun thing to do. For each year, some major events, summarizing MY 20s (do it for yourself also!):
20: I went to Swizterland to start my Bachelor's in Hospitality Management, and worked at the Hyatt Orlando for my 6-months internship
21: I met Richard while doing my second internship at the World Center Marriott
22: Rich and I started dating, and I had to go back to Swizterland, ..we take our 1st vacation together in St. Augustine, FL
23: I graduated with Honors and got accepted at Rollins College, Winter Park, coming back to Orlando and started living with Richard. I became a Stepmom to little Richie and Brittany!
24: We got our 2 cats Dali and Lucifer, I join Rollins Dancers
25: We move to Celebration, I intern at a Immigration Law firm and become a Tutor in Accounting at Rollins
26: Richard proposes to me, asking my Dad's permission to marry me; We buy our house and move into the house
27: I graduate from Rollins, we get our 3rd cat Mila, we get married, have a 2nd celebration in Brazil, I start working for Marriott again, we get our Dogs Coco, Bo and Yoda
28: I quit the Marriott to go into Management with another company, but it doesn't work out. I apply for Grad School and get accepted, starting my Master's at UCF and think very seriously about working for myself and never for anybody else again ad about having kids, ..I get pregnant after my trip to Brazil!
29: I continue Grad School, pregnant, but take a break closer to my due date. I start my business plan for my consulting firm, my daughter Gabi is born December 05, 2007
30: I start my Consulting firm, continue Graduate school and raise my beuatiful and amazing daughter.....
..More to come now!

In my 20s I visited 6 countries, and probably close to 48 cities, if I recall correctly. I cannot count how many books I read, or how many papers I wrote for school. I made friends for life in my 20s, and met a handful of amazing people who make a difference in my life everyday. I was part in 8 different College committees, and started donating to 6 different charities. In my 20s I became even closer to my parents and my sister, because I did not have the chance of being with them and seeing them everyday. I did "crazy" stuff, like dancing on the table at Montreux's Mayfair Cafe, or enjoying alcoholic beverages, especially wine, quite often and liberally. I took caffeine pills to "extend" my study hours until 3 a.m. while in Swizterland, and had the energy of a 10 year old the next day. There are some more things that I prefer not to disclose here. I went to college "again" just so I could be with my sweetheart Richard, and going to Rollins was one fo the best things I've ever done. I lost my "baby fat" when I hit 23, finally, and dropped 10 pounds while working at the Marriott (soon, though, the pregnancy refilled that "emptiness"). I dyed my hair I don't know how many times, ...but most important of all, my 20s helped me define myself. I had the time to look into myself and focus on myself only. I know nowadays what I want and what I like, what I don't like and what I don't recommend or do recommend because of what I lived in my 20s. I am happy with the outcome.

Now, a new chapter has started. It is not just about ME anymore. It's about adding MORE VALUE to my life. Gabi adds value to my life, and so do Brittany and Richie (and I hope they know that...). My business adds value to my life. My relationship with my husband adds value to my life. My best friends and my family all add value to my life and these are relationships to care for, everyday. It is not just about ME anymore...

I am so glad that I did what I did because I wouldn't be here today if I had not done it.