30 by 30: Life, Love, and the Pursuit of Happiness

By Jené G. Matzkanin

While in her twenties, author Jen G. Matzkanin had set out to find meaning in her life, to find her place, make a name, and hopefully, make a difference. Suddenly, she found herself on the verge of turning thirty. Shed thought by the time she reached thirty she would have her life figured out, career started, family established, and be well on her way to wherever it was she was going.

In 30 by 30, Matzkanin shares a collection of heartwarming, giggle-worthy, life lessons that she inadvertently learned the hard way. Some are deep, some are not, but all offer a practical look at the wide variety of decisions and actions that one faces on the voyage throughout young adulthood.

Showing that no one is alone on the sometimes rocky journey to thirty, 30 by 30 provides a look at life from someone whos made it to the other side of her twenties. It admits that the decade between ages twenty and thirty is painfully brutal, yet remains one of the most beautiful times of life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Aug 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781458220165

Jené G. Matzkanin

Jené is a California girl living in a Montana world. She has earned degrees in marketing and business, runs her own consulting firm, and most days...she’s pretty okay at being an adult.

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Copyright © 2016 Jené Gabrielle.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4582-2014-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4582-2015-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4582-2016-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016905133

Abbott Press rev. date: 8/26/2016

Contents

Introduction

LIFE

Two Dimensions of You’ll Never Be Ready for Anything

Juju: The Good and the Bad

Yoga for the Headstrong

Families Are Like Gangs

Know People

Don’t Tattoo Your Face

Find a Best Friend and Call Her Dude

Helmets and Knee Pads

LOVE

Don’t Date Until You’re Thirty

Dating Is a Lot Like Fishing

The Goat and the Diamond

Not All Guys Are Bad

Misconceptions

More Than a Feeling

Hearts Break

THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams

Where the Road Will Take You

Be Bold

Tacos, Shoes, and Moral Compasses

Forgiveness Is a Magical Power

Begonias and Memories

Don’t Call Me Grace

AND OTHER PEARLS OF WISDOM

Be Nice

Golden Goose Eggs

Tips and Two Way Streets

Walls Around My Walls

Boundaries for the Taking

When Life Gives You Rocks

Apple Trees

MOST IMPORTANTLY

You Are Going to Make It

This book is

dedicated to Savannah Grace, my child, my heart, my reason; and to my mom, Susan for helping me make it this far, I couldn’t have done it without you.

Special thanks to Frances Robbins for that warm and inspiring conversation on June 23rd, 2015, and to Charlie for the beverages that night (and every other night), both of which fueled the idea of this book.

A most heartfelt thank you to Jan Mailey for your help and most importantly - your friendship.

Introduction

It is the end of June 2015, and according to some I’m pushing thirty with an "effing" bulldozer. Kind of harsh if you ask me, but I suppose it’s true. At this point in my life, I have an 8.5 year old that uses words like aquatic micro vertebrae, and other ones that I can’t even remember, a cocker spaniel/springer spaniel that looks like Walter Matthau, two mischievous cats- Beefcake and Zippers, and a slight obsession with Tom Selleck.

I am currently one semester away from two bachelor’s degrees in business/marketing, was recently inducted into a not-so secret honor society, and I work in a field dominated by manly men and a few occasional whiners. I often fantasize about quitting my job to work at the local lumberyard and join the PTA. Hasn’t happened yet, maybe someday soon. I am a little weird, I laugh when I should cry, base my political votes on whether or not the candidates appreciate tacos, and quite simply refuse to believe that Elvis Presley is dead.

I grew up in sunny Southern California somewhere in between the ocean and the ghetto. I lived near a military base and I have a deep respect for those who serve this country. I also have a deep respect for truck drivers, but that’s neither here nor there. I was lucky to have a nice home to live in, and was raised alongside my brother Chippy, who my daughter has renamed Pippers. He’s welcome. He was into dirt bikes and being popular. I was quiet and shy, and had a hard time making friends and being cool. Instead I just made googaly eyes at all of his friends. Weirdo, I know. I was fortunate to have a small handful of GREAT friends, and most of them are still around today with the help of social media.

My parents divorced when I was young, and both have remarried. We are a big mixed-up, happy-most-of-the-time family. At the ripe old age of 18, my parents left California to move to of all places…MONTANA. There was no way in h-e-double-hockey-sticks that I was moving with them. Besides, at that time, I had stuff going for me. I found myself in a successful retail career, and also pregnant and married to an army guy. I did all that fairly young just to get it out of the way. For the record, I have no regrets!

Upon the birth of my little girl, I decided California was no longer for me. I moved to sweet home Alabama. This is where my husband-at-the-time lived, and therefore I moved to be with him. Fortunately, that marriage didn’t work out but I did gain a whole new family, his parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and neighbors. In fact, his mom and I had drinks with popsicle stick Bon Jovi and Patrick Swayze just a few weeks ago.

Upon the ending of my marriage, I moved to Montana to be closer to my mom. Yep, there it is. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced culture shock, but it is so very uncomfortable. I wore Vans sneakers during winter, and I swore on all that was holy I would never own a stupid puffer vest. Eight years later, I wear CUTE winter boots almost all year round, and I