project 30’s – campbell

What would your 30 something self tell your 20 something self if you could?

Savour every moment! Let’s face it, you are free and limitless in your 20’s, your priorities are slightly askew, your responsibilities are fewer and your cares are free. These could be called your “golden years” not retirement, but the problem with that statement is in your 20’s there are so many worries about getting the right job and all your ducks in a row and the pressure blankets the fun that your 20’s should be. I have always been a live in the moment kind of person but this trait was at it’s best in my 20’s. I would eat mashed potatoes for dessert, I would stay out later to not miss the debauchery, I would have another beer while staying out later not missing the debauchery. I lived more! It felt full and I felt rich.

What do you wish you took more seriously in your 20’s?

Of course the only answer to that is the ducks in a row part. When you spend a vast amount of time looking for what turns you on, inspires you and makes you feel full and rich some important things can fall trough the cracks. AND, it did take a long time to gather all my ducks, I say laughing. I spread myself too thin with my career and it all came together a bit later than I had envisioned.

What do you wish you took less seriously in your 20’s?

The pressure to fit the mold of other kids my age. My parents would never fail to tell me that so-and-so’s kids were in Med. school curing cancer or something only made for brilliant over-achievers (I hope no offense is taken and you over-achievers keep reading this…plus I did call you brilliant!) but that just wasn’t my path. I wasn’t the smart valedictorian I was the smart class clown and though I was always proud of it, I wish that I swam in it a little bit more for the sake of my confidence in being different.

Favorite memory from your 20’s?

Being an independent ex-pat in France! My years in Paris will forever be my happiness. Being independent, meeting people from around the world while studying at Le Cordon Bleu, cocktails in bars in old underground caves, open air markets, art exhibits, champagne, performers on street corners, terraces, cigarettes, wine with lunch, eating baguettes with cheese for breakfast lunch or dinner. It has become what I call my “Al Bundy Moment.” You always want to go back to some point in your life to feel it all over again and this is mine.

In your early 20’s where did you think you would be (work, live etc) by 30?

Growing up in LA I always figured I would be an actor and marry someone from the industry I met on set like my parents but as I got older I always planned I would be living in Europe, I just didn’t think it would be in Holland in the rain married to an extraordinary man and a step mother to 2 beautiful little girls.

And where were you by 30? What did your life look like?

I was living my dream in Paris as the chef of a very successful wine bar called Ô Chateau. I turned 30 at said bar and I think you all got the idea of what living in Paris was like for me from the earlier question….but 2 months after turning 30 I had met my future husband and crossed yet another border to be with him 8 months later.

Were you ever worried that it wouldn’t all fall into place?

At some point we all stress about where our lives are going and I do remember worrying, but I always knew that it really would as you said, “fall into place.” I think my mother once told me, “Things seem to always work themselves out with you.” and my father told me, “You always bounce back strong.” so I had faith and having strong parents who taught me to be independent and fly out of the nest helped.

What is the greatest gift about being a woman in your 30’s?

Now I feel full and rich for totally new reasons! I am more comfortable in my own skin, I let my freak flag fly with no worries about what people think (not that I did too much even in my 20’s if I am being honest…) and I am more confident in my choices. Just as a tree has roots in the ground to hold strong I believe we have roots within ourselves that solidify us as people and mine feel firm in regard to who I am these days which I believe is a part of entering your 30’s.

When you look out onto the horizon. What do you hope your life looks like at 40?

It’s cliché but sometimes a little bit of it ain’t so bad. Looking in the magic ball, I hope I am chasing after some little kids while still finding the time to put on my Chanel red lipstick. I hope to be doing this while finishing the 2 books I started at 26 and getting back into writing. I hope I can balance it all and make parenting look easy because since becoming one 2 years ago with my husband’s children I feel like a better version of myself because of them. But most of all, I hope our little family is happy wherever we live whether it’s Holland, France or California!

What’s a quote/ saying you try to live your life by?

“Everything happens for a reason.” I was always a very easy breezy kinda gal until I moved to Holland where the variables in my life dramatically changed and I am glad you asked me this question because it made me remember some things you cannot change. Sometimes you just have to play it from where it lies.

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