Y’all, it’s official…I’m one week into my 30th year and I have to say that a lot has happened in this one week! Yeah, yeah, go ahead and say it, “Girl you’re getting old!” I literally heard that during my entire birthday weekend. Since I’ve turned 30 (and leading up to this milestone year), so many thoughts have gone through my head. I mean seriously, my head feels like it’s going to explode from so much inspiration and reflection. I’ve also been counting my blessings including, motherhood, my marriage (now of four years with a lifetime to go), being a homeowner and being debt free (Well for the most part, My loans are paid in full THANK GOD. But whew having kids will surely run up some hospital bills lol).

Typically, when you get a year older your thoughts are always bad or depressing, because you’re not where you thought you would be. And, if we are being honest, I know I’m not where I saw myself compared to my middle school and high school goals. For a long while, I thought I had lost some of those goals and ventured down a new path. The 30-year-old Dana I envisioned as a teen was one who drove a stylish Range Rover, was done having kids by 30 (Now that I have Dallas, I’m just getting started), and the host of 106 & Park. Yep, this dream career is the big one! Growing up you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t going to host one of the most popular shows on BET. I loved that show and I loved hosting period.

To Everything There is a Season

As a child, we are taught to plan our futures and stick with it. You can do anything you put your mind too right? But what you don’t hear is the reality that not everything is going to be easy. You have to work hard and try many things to find your passion and purpose, and you most certainly don’t hear that chances are those goals you set may be extended or shortened a year or two. What you should hear is out of all of those unfulfilled goals it’s okay that you fall behind on them. The world isn’t going to end, and your life isn’t going to stop!

As I said before, I wanted to be a talk show host. I would practice in the mirror, in the shower, driving, or anywhere I could get a free moment alone. I got an opportunity, got nervous, and decided to go another route. My biggest fear: I didn’t like how I sounded on air. But If I could go back to my 15-year-old self (or heck even my 21-year-old self), I would push myself right off the cliff and dive into whatever hosting opportunity I was given. This is so hard for me to talk about even now because when I think about it, I feel like I lost myself and I’m so far behind my counterparts. But the good news: I’m right on time!

As I sit here with tears in my eyes, a glass of wine, and embracing all of 30 I’m challenging teenage Dana to get out of my head and Paint My Purpose. The good thing: when you love something and let it go, it will always come back. So now, here I am — a week into 30 — with my hosting fire relit, and the 30-year-old Dana won’t be scared to talk in front of people, because they may think I’m too “ghetto” like teenage Dana was. Today’s Dana is going to put herself out there with the hopes of inspiring others. She is going to walk in her purpose ready to knock down any obstacle coming her way!

Message to 16-year-old Dana

“Oh, you got this girl, the world is yours! As we walk this journey together, don’t hesitate to look back on some of the things you wish you could have done and think it’s too late. It’s NEVER too late to do something you love!”

Friends, while you may not have the 15 or 16-year-old body to do it again, you do have your “right now, I’ve learned, lived, and loved” mind, body and spirit, which is even better than before. Go Get It!