Yesterday I turned the big 3-0! To be honest, for quite awhile I was dreading it, but in actuality it was a super awesome day! Took the day off from freelancing and did fun stuff around NYC. At one point I stumbled upon Nintendo World and played video games for like an hour! I felt like a kid again! Did you know that Nintendo bought Sega and you can play Sonic games on Nintendo now? Apparently that happened like 10 years ago... shows how out of the loop I am on that.

Thoughts on 30:

I really am glad to have more knowledge about life in general, freelancing, and the comics industry. I have more confidence in my abilities and am taking more risks with things I didn't think I could do. I've grown to present myself and my work more professionally, am better at communicating, and can stand my ground. I feel comfortable turning down projects that don't pay anything/much.

A lot of people say I look younger than I am, which is great, but there can be a downside professionally. I'm 30, no I did not just graduate from college (even though I look like it), and I won't work for free or an internship anymore. Over the past 4 years in NYC I've encountered some people that are looking to take advantage of young people's talent and naivete. Even though I got caught up in those situations, I know better now.

I guess I'm technically an adult now. I need to get my head out of the "starving artist" zone and really put more effort into building a real future for myself through my artwork. No easy task, but... I really miss having expendable income. I'm glad I'm making enough to squeak by in New York, but I need to do better. Treated myself and was treated to some nice things on my birthday, and I realized that lots of adults wouldn't think twice about going out to eat or going shopping. I want to change that in my 30s. GAME ON!