The month I turned 30, I was eight months postpartum. I know many people might not understand why moms say, “I am this many months postpartum,” but just because the baby is out of you doesn’t mean your body doesn’t go through an adjustment period. For some women, it takes a few months, and for others, it might take over a year. It all depends on how long you breastfeed and your body.

January

Anywho, so in January, when I turned 30, I learned not to set unrealistic expectations for myself. If you want something done a certain way, communicate, communicate, communicate. You can’t make people enjoy what you enjoy, so don’t be afraid to do things alone.

Tip: Download one point-earning app and use it exclusively for booking hotels. My favorite app is called Hotel Tonight; you can use my invitation code for $50 on your next booking: AMATAYLOR110

February

Life is not going to go your way sometimes; go with the flow.

March

Don’t spend too much money on things you don’t need. Put it into a savings account and watch it accumulate. That’s it.

Tip: I went on my first family vacation this year, and to keep our spending costs low, we cooked a few of our meals on this grill inside our hotel.

April

To create memories, you need to put in work first. I learned to be a better hostess. I knew that creating memories that would last a lifetime was worth it. It’s a labor of love.

May

I learned to keep it small, try not to stress, and there is always next year. May is the busiest month of the year for me. It’s my wedding anniversary, mothers day, and my baby’s birthday.

Tip: When we threw our baby his first birthday party, some guests gave us some money and gift cards. We put the money we received straight into his savings account. We opened up a savings account a few months after he was born. Anytime we get money for him, we put it in there. As far as his gift cards, we purchased necessities such as diapers, wipes, and even a new stroller.

June

I learned not to be a sheep and to research things for myself.

July

I learned never to ignore an issue, talk it out, resolve it, communicate.

August

I learned that some people don’t have your best interest at heart. People will show you their true intentions with you after you stop giving them the only thing they want from you.

September

I learned that we couldn’t depend on ourselves, and it’s okay to ask for help.

October

I learned that God should always come first. Without him, I would be nothing.

November

God is good, and He renews.

December

I’m learning to enjoy the moment, go with the flow.

Bonus

Now do it with me, take a deep breath *inhaling deeply*, *holding for three seconds*, *exhaling slowly*. Repeat that three times, and I guarantee you will feel a little better. I try to be much more mindful of how my body is feeling. Unnecessary stress is very harmful to the body. Do breathing work, meditate, pray, do yoga, or even go on a walk. Take care of yourself.

Sometimes lessons are learned the first time, but most likely, lessons are learned over and over and over again throughout life. These are the lessons I’ve learned this year. I’m 30 years old, and my first year of being 30 was… okay, lol. For being in a pandemic, not being able to travel to see my family or friends, having health scares happen to my family and me, this year forced me to appreciate what I have and to let go of any control I thought I had in my life.

I’m going to Disney World this month and going to many events this month, so get ready to read many new posts from me these next couple of months. I hope you enjoyed reading; please subscribe for more from me! Like this post, if you did, and even if you didn’t, leave me a comment to share your thoughts. I can’t wait to hear from you.

-with love, Amanda