No, I haven’t read the book and I don’t plan to, either. If you want to know why, check out this blogger. She captured my thoughts way better than I could have.

So I may have tricked you. Or used a hot button topic to lure you in. Same difference. Though I may not have anything as interesting as Christian Grey, I do have a pretty funny story.

My 30th birthday is just around the corner. Merely days around the corner. Like Sunday.

It’s really not all that terrible of a milestone as I once imagined. I like my life. It’s exactly what I hoped for at this moment in time. In fact, it’s better. I can’t think of any dream left floating in the wind. I can’t think of anything I wish I would have done or tried before turning 30.

I don’t really have any regrets. And I’ve come to peace with most of the “should have” or “could have” beens.

My life isn’t picture perfect. It has many flaws. I’m not perfect, either. But my life just feels right.

When I look in to the future, 30 is just a stepping stone to even more happiness.

If you know me in real life, you probably know that I am not a “flashy” kind of girl. I don’t wear make up. I don’t have an elaborate wardrobe. I am hopeless at fixing my hair.

But, I do COLOR my hair. It’s been blonde, brown, and some reddish tones in between. I haven’t seen my true hair color in over seven years.

I know beneath all that hair dye lurks at least a dozen unwanted gray hairs. Lately, I’ve been wanting to go back to a darker color to let my natural hair grow out. I’m scared to see just how many grays are underneath, but I want to get my hair in better shape. I want to stop the bleachy blonde madness. I want something a little truer to myself.

But not so true that I’m showing my gray.

This past weekend, some of my best friends in the world surprised me down at the lake. I hadn’t seen two of them in years and it was just like old times. We giggled and talked like 6 years had not passed. It healed me through to my soul. It healed me in ways I didn’t realize I needed healing.

Being with these friends of mine stripped me of my facades. These girls love me to the core. They love me with zits on my face. They love me with my extra pounds, wrinkles, and battle scars. They love the raw, flawed, crazy, emotional, goofy me.

And so I got brave and decided to make the leap.

For anyone who may be contemplating a similar leap, heed this warning: Do NOT try this at home. 

I decided on a whim, just days before my 30th birthday, in the presence of some of my dearest, truest, best friends, to dye my hair from bleach blonde to dark brown.

The result???

Gray. All over. Walking Dead scary gray hair.

And though I DID shed some tears, I’m SO glad I was in the presence of these girls. The ones who love me in all my exposed glory. Because they laughed with me.  I mean, pee your pants in the aisle of WalMart laughter (while trying to figure out how to get rid of the gray hair).

I can’t help but laugh at the irony of all this happening just before my 30th birthday. I’m not old, even if I did get a glimpse of myself with a head full of gray hair.

With only a few days left of my 20′s, I’ve no doubt been in some quiet reflection. I am very hopeful for my 30′s. I’m looking forward to this decade with an open heart. I can’t wait to see what these years hold for me.

I know for a fact, however, that they do NOT hold a head full of gray hair. I’ll save that for my 80′s. Of course, a few stray grays probably won’t be much cause for concern for me anymore.

Sometimes we make mistakes. We must own up to them and make things right.
Sometimes things don’t go as planned. We must be flexible, adaptable, and accepting of change.
Sometimes we need to trust and lean on others around us. We must not be ashamed to ask for help.
Laughter melts away the tension. We must always try to find the humor in each situation.
Spur of the moment decisions that involve a drastic change in appearance are probably not a good idea. We should probably just leave well enough alone.
True friends defy time and distance. We must treasure and make time to nurture these friendships.
You know someone loves you when he kisses you and calls you beautiful as you stare up at him with a head full of gray hair. And you know he’s in it for the long haul when he helps you re-dye your hair the next day. We must always love with every fiber of our being.

As it turns out, the things I learned in one horrific hair dying fiasco are some pretty awesome words to live by. Am I right?

Life happens when we turn 30.

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