The Month Before 30

Before I pinned 'Overthinking at the intersection of work and play' under the title of my blog, I had aimed to 'Conquer the business day and networking night by the age of 30.'

30?
Really?
I gave myself a little less than four years to win the game of life? (Whatever that means.)
Then what? After, I beat the system (at 30) I would just relax and call it quits?
Thankfully, about two years ago I hit the edit button.

Since I started The Early Riser, my blog has continued to progress in tone and content, and through the practice of writing things out each week, I've learned how to approach life in a more mature and rational way. I've learned that timing is out of my control - that plans get made and broken - and that success isn't about wins and losses, dollars earned and dollars spent, square feet and number of cars in your garage. Success is about your level of happiness and it can only be measured by you.

In less than one month, I will turn 30 - that milestone that stands as an ever present stop watch to my blog, despite its absence from the public facing site. Its not like its my scary age - that came and passed at 28 as I cried over my birthday dinner at Morton's. (Peter can attest.) And even though I'm not thinking about conquering the world anymore, 30's approach continues to make me do status checks: How am I feeling? How's the book coming? Married? How is work going? Am I CEO yet? Am I happy?

Today, I checked out like this:
How am I feeling? Healthy - I guess. Although, around 30, I swear it becomes harder and harder to control my mass on Earth - the curves seem to get curvier everyday. Note: Need to resist the urge for seconds - one bowl of Beef Barley should be enough.

How's the book coming? About a week ago, after Peter told me that he wasn't going to live my dream for me, I decided that I needed to commit to it, once and for all. I put pen to paper and started filling out the outline that I've had on hold for the past three years. I'm at 8,500 words. Good start.

Married? CHECK!

How is work going? The usual, 'Good' response, turned 'Excellent' yesterday. And I dare say, the whole conquering thing came true. Around noon at the Reel Club in Oak Brook, over a great chopped salad, my boss told me that I was being promoted. (Huge!) I was going to be working at the next band level, doing marketing and communications for just about the biggest brand in the world. Needless to say, I was and I am ecstatic. And I told her that it came at the perfect time - right before I turned 30.

Am I happy? Absolutely.

At this point, I'm just looking for one more plus. Then ... I'll be all set.

Lo.