30 is here, and what can I say? I've been looking forward to this since…well, since I got over the fact I couldn't say mid-twenties anymore. I am feeling as confident, (physically/mentally/spiritually) fit, healthy, sexy and successful as ever. Of course, none of this came without a hitch or three million. It's been a journey full of ups, downs, trials, tribulations, small steps leading to big steps and so much more. I am relishing time with myself on this day, but I also wanted to share with you a few of my favorite reflections and lessons learned up to this point.

It's a beautiful beat.

I'm talking about the beat of your own drum. March to it. Stick to it. It resonates just for you, and only you can make it. It's taken a long time to understand that I thrive the most when I stick to my guns. It's tough to do that in an environment like high school or college, or a workplace, or a clique-y group of friends. Trust me, it's okay if people don't get you. Not everyone will. It's worth it to stay true to yourself. As a blogger, my content and style have only been that much stronger and resonated that much more with my readers when I keep it real, not when I write about, wear or do things just because everyone else is doing it.

Quality control

At first, I only thought of this in terms of fashion. I've recently started to wean out the fast fashion and cheap clothes in favor of high-quality pieces that fit my body and style well. It's really depressing to see a girl in her early twenties wearing the same dress you bought at Forever 21 or H&M. I still have a soft spot in my heart for Zara, but I'm making a very real effort to stay away from bringing a lot of fast fashion into my closet.

Quality control also applies in lots of other things in life too. The people you spend time with. The stuff you read. The things you eat. The way you decide to spend your time. Quality is everything. Tell the people who matter most to you that you love them, and tell them often. Stay curious. Take control of what goes in your body and on your schedule.

Fear fuels your fire

I used to get so nervous about everything. Public speaking. Going to the gym. Performance reviews. What my coworkers or fellow students thought of me. Asking. Saying the wrong thing. Over time, and especially when I realized I'd started my own business and was completely responsible for everything, all of those fears became fuel. I always want to be the best, and I can't let anything paralyze me from getting there. Don't let fear paralyze you. Even if you're scared, act as if. I learned that from my internship boss and informal mentor years ago, and it's stuck with me since.

Never stop learning.

I know this should go without saying, but never let your curiosity fade. Read. A lot. Read a lot of different things. Stay open-minded. Greet new people with a warm smile and a good handshake, because you never know if you can help one another somewhere down the road. Chalk up 'bad days' as lessons learned. Challenge yourself to do better every day.

Let's get it, 30. I am just getting started.

30Fresh. 30 days of posts celebrating 30 years - and 5 of Fresh Jess!