68: Why Your 30s Can Feel Like Coming Home

Another Sheree solo episode.

Turning 32 made me pause and realise something I did not expect: my 30s are starting to feel like the decade I’ve been working toward, even though I definitely don’t have everything figured out. On a gloomy weather day with real-life mom chaos right around the corner, I wanted to capture that rare, calm, grateful headspace and talk it out like we’re voice-noting each other. If you’ve ever looked at your thirties like they were “so old,” this is your reminder that the view from here is a lot more human and a lot more hopeful.

We get into the moments that shaped this season, from celebrating big milestones like marriage and travel to finding my footing as a mom and pushing forward professionally (including earning the next license in my career). But I don’t skip the harder side of this decade either. The thirties can bring grief, shifting family dynamics, and friendships that change, whether through loss or through realising someone no longer fits your life. I share how boundaries have become less about shutting people out and more about protecting the version of me I’m trying to grow, and why having quality friends who can say “that sucks” and still stay matters so much.

We also talk practical goals for the year: getting back to feeling like me, staying on top of health and mindset, and leaning into community through the podcast, our book club, Bookstagram, and the newsletter. And because joy counts too, I’m sharing what I’ve been listening to lately for a little escapism, including Drake’s “Iceman,” Noah Kahan, Kehlani, Giveon’s “Beloved Act Two,” and new Tori Kelly singles.

If you’re navigating motherhood, adulthood, friendship shifts, or a big birthday, come hang with me for this short solo check-in. 

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Transcript

Welcome To Turn The Page

SPEAKER_01 0:04

Welcome to Turn the Page Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Sisters, best friends, and brunch enthusiasts.

SPEAKER_01 0:10

With relatable episodes that feel like you're chatting with two of your closest friends or sisters. Join us as we turn the page to different topics about losing yourself in motherhood, adulthood, anyhood.

SPEAKER_00 0:22

And finding yourself again through meaningful friendships, shameless piles of unread library books, and endless Amazon package deliveries. Real, honest, and a little bit chaotic. We talk about it all.

SPEAKER_01 0:34

So grab your favorite drink, put the kids to bed, lace up your sneaks or whatever you need to do and join us. We can't wait to connect with you.

Why My 30s Feel So Good

SPEAKER_02 1:09

That's so crazy for me to say. I don't know, I don't know why, but yeah, so I just wanted to get on here and reflect a little bit because I've been having a time. He's waking up, but the no one told me I hate that trend, or I don't even know if it's a trend, but just that opening or that like caption video post starter, because like somebody told you, I'm sure, and you just didn't listen. But I don't know, in some cases, yeah, maybe somebody didn't tell you, but I just I don't know why that bothers me so much. So no one told me that blah blah blah. I'm gonna steal it though. No one told me that your 30s is like the best, and someone did people have told me that, but like when you're younger, I feel like 30s feels so old, or like when you're in your 20s and you see people in their 30s, and it feels like they're so much older, they have their shit together. It just is like it seems so far away. Being in it now, I definitely don't have my shit together by any means, but I'm loving just this time in my life. I feel like this decade so far has been everything that I have been like working towards. So it's really exciting and just really validating to see it all kind of come to light. 30s immediately started with like celebrating my bachelorette with my girls on Lake Norman two years ago, eventually getting married later that year, traveling with my husband. It welcomed coming into my own more as a mom. I really feel like that's happened over the past like year or two. It welcomed a hot mom summer, which landed me into having another kid and finding my footing again as I'm so so far 30s has just been really fruitful and such a blessing. Yeah, I'm just feeling really grateful this morning. It's a really shitty day weather-wise, but I just woke up feeling very blessed. I woke up next to my toddler who gently kissed me on the arm. And then we did some sight words. Like, I'm just I feel like I'm in my element right now. This is where it was kind of meant to be. And going through all of the discomfort and challenges in my 20s has really led me here, even work-wise and like exploring what's next for me professionally, but being able to work really hard to get where I am professionally. That's another thing. I didn't even think about that. Yeah, 30s also brought getting my like next license in my career. That was right after I turned 30. So yeah, I'm just feeling very lucky, very blessed, feeling like all of my hard work and challenges have been paying off. I'm sure there are more challenges to come. There have been challenges.

Grief, Boundaries, And Growing Up

SPEAKER_02 4:34

30s has also brought a lot of grief. Losing friends through them not being here physically anymore because they have passed, losing friends because they don't fit in this current stage of my life anymore, having to set boundaries to protect myself, having to adjust to new family dynamics. I mean, 30s has also brought a lot of pain and grief and hurt, but I feel like I've been able to navigate it differently or be able to see just things from a different perspective, be able to use those hard times as a learning experience. And that I think also just comes from going through a lot of the shit that I've gone through. It's helped me just kind of have a different mindset. So 32, y'all. I'm very excited. I'm very blessed. My goals for the year are just to like get back to feeling like me. I have my body back. So I also want to work on just like keeping my mind right, keeping up with my health, staying connected to community, friends, and family, taking the next step in my professional career and leaning more into this space with you guys, with the podcast, with the book club, with my Bookstagram, our newsletter, just really like expanding, sharing my voice, connecting with like-minded people. I don't know why that feels so important. Obviously, it's always been important, but lately, yeah, it's felt especially like you need people around you who get it and who can validate and can relate and say, like, damn, sis, that sucks. Like, we need people like that in our lives. And I think just going through some things that I've been going through the past couple years, relationship-wise, I've been able to kind of open my eyes to how important it is to have like really good quality people around you who want to see you win, who hype you up, who want to like run this race with you, and that are with you through the shitty times too. So I'm grateful for good friends, I'm grateful for family, grateful for my husband, I'm grateful for my kids. I'm just grateful this morning, y'all. So I just wanted to get on and kind of share being in that headspace because as a new mom of two, that you know that could change in an instant, at the drop of a dime. In fact, the second my toddler walks through that door, she could bring a storm of chaos. So I am leaning into where I am in the present right now.

New Music I’m Playing On Repeat

SPEAKER_02 7:12

I also wanted to quickly share. I don't know why. I'm just like, I've been listening to some really good music lately, so I'm grateful for good music. Oh, buddy. Oh buddy. I'm so just wanted to share what I've been bumping lately. Drake just dropped three new albums, which is insane to me, but so far I've only listened to the one because it's just like too much. Iceman has been really good. Iceman by Drake. I've been listening to the Noah Kahan, Cahan, his new album. Oh, okay. Hold on now. Let's try this way. I think he's got a burp stuck in there. The new Kaylani album, and Giveyon just dropped like a part two or like a deluxe version of his most recent album. What's that one called? Beloved. Beloved Act Two. So yeah, that's what I've been bumping to lately. The new Kaylani album, I didn't get that name. Oh, Kaylani. That's easy. Thanks, girl. Keeps it simple. So yeah, check those out if you're wanting some new music. Also, Tori Kelly just dropped two new singles. I think her new album's coming out in June. But her new singles are control and dive music in between audiobooks, in between cooking, getting outside, looking at my little garden, my little herb garden. Those have been like keeping me sane right now, especially if I just need some like light escapism from everything going on. So I am gonna get this boy a bottle because he keeps spitting out his passy. I think that means he's hungry. I'm learning all the cues of a new kid.

Birthday Plans And A Quick Goodbye

SPEAKER_02 9:14

On my 32nd birthday, yes, bitch. Okay, we're supposed to be going to a winery this weekend, but the weather's gonna be trash. So maybe figuring out a plan B and maybe we're thugging it out in the rain and cold. Either way, I'm back outside, so I'm ready. Ready for a modified hot mom summer. I'm just ready to like do fun things again. So yeah, thanks for listening. This is a shorty, but hopefully a goody. And yeah, I'm hoping to do more of these solo episodes when I have time, so stay tuned, and I will talk to you guys soon. Like, listen, subscribe, and review. Love you, bye.

SPEAKER_00 10:03

All right, everyone. This was another episode of Turn the Page Podcast. Thanks for hanging out.

SPEAKER_01 10:09

Don't forget to like, listen, and subscribe. And also don't forget to leave a review, please, and let us know what you thought about today's episode and all the other episodes. Thanks, guys. Talk to you soon. Bye.