30.25

in october i celebrated a milestone of sorts… (not that every birthday isn’t a milestone..) but, everyone seems to make a bigger deal out of the decade birthdays. so here’s (there’s?) to 30.
dirty 30.
purty 30.
30 being the new black.
rocking the 30s.
30 being the new 20.
well, you get the idea. apparently 30 is something to be excited about.
and of course I am.
my 30 years have been pretty incredible. in the scheme of life, i’ve had a good one.
but, as a true educator, there is always so much more to learn.
one exciting thing about this 30th year of my life, is the fact that my husband is living in another state. not, exciting in the fact that he wants to have facetime naked time, like everyday…
but, exciting in the fact that i really get to spend some time on me.
on making me a better a person…. a wiser person, a healthier person, a more aware person.
and so my plan was to document this year month by month (but, let’s be real… more like quarter by quarter) about things i have started doing, stopped doing, things I have learned, things i have grown to appreciate. things that have become important in my life… and maybe even somethings that have become not so important in my life.
and even though i am one quarter through my 30th year, and i do have lots to say about all those things… one thing stands out the most. and it took me one quarter of my 30th year to figure it out. but, i think it’s important enough to share.
i started my 30th year going to a series of dermatology appointments. i had been slacking on my yearly skin checks, and figured now was as good a time as any to get back into that routine.
i had just turned 30, after all.
long story short, i had a spot of skin cancer removed from my leg.
i am fortunate in many, many ways.
i am fortunate that i get my skin checked frequently enough that i noticed a change.
i am fortunate that my dermatologist wasted no time in taking care of my health.
i am fortunate that i caught my skin cancer before it became melanoma.
i am fortunate that it was not melanoma.
and most of all, i am fortunate that i was able to learn from the experience, and am able to educate others about the experience as well.
the situation isn’t over with the removal of my chunk of skin. in two weeks i am having a few more lymphnodes removed and biopsied. and i have to get a skin check every three months to make sure nothing has spread.
but, to me that’s fortunate.
i can do that.
i can get a few more lymphnodes removed.
i can go back to the dermatologist every three months.
i can check my skin every month in between.
and, i can remind my friends and family that your skin is just as important to keep healthy as any other part of your body, your mind or your soul.
so, yeah… there’s a lot of learning to do this year.
and that’s exactly what i plan on doing.
as the HEALTHY (dirty, purty, rocking, dressed in black looking like a 20 year old) 30 year old me.