project 30 – veronique

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

Calm down. stop creating drama. don’t drink so much. stop wasting time on negative people and situations. love yourself more. work harder at the things you dream of. live in the moment and stop worrying about what the future holds.

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

I wish I took my well-being more seriously. My state of mind. I wish I partied less. I loved to party when I was younger. I was naive to consequence.

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

I wish i didn’t spend so much time being heartbroken over relationships that didn’t work out. I know now everything happens for a reason and I wasted a lot of time on things that didn’t work out. I had a hard time letting go.. I know now that life is easier when you let go. I also wish i spent more time in the light. I often chose a dark state of mind. and its so much easier to be in sunshine 🙂

Favorite memory from your 20’s?

Studying acting in London. I remember being in parks in Oxford reading Shakespeare and was so inspired about all the places and things in the world to learn about. I also remember producing theatre. I produced some shows I was really proud of. I loved that.

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

I thought I would be acting on a TV show or in movies. I imagined that I would have the perfect relationship and everything would be going my way.

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

I was acting professionally but by no means did i have my own tv show and I’d just gotten sober so I was slowly getting my life together and making positive changes for myself… I was single and was by no means where i thought I would be at 30 when I was 20. but exactly where i needed to be i guess.

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

Yes often worried. I was always worried I wouldn’t meet someone or ever have a family , I was worried I wouldn’t make it as an actress.. I worried about everything. Looking back now if I had only realized that all my big plans really didn’t mean anything and that the universe had far greater plans for me. Like being a mother of two beautiful children and a wife; I would have saved myself so much energy. With age you learn that worrying doesn’t do anything. It’s all in gods hands anyway and the universe will always take care of you no matter what it is in life. You just have to have faith that it will all be ok. I’ve learned that over the years.

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

I think the greatest gift about being in my 30’s is a sense of self. I think you find a strong sense of self as you age and I am grateful to feel like i really know who i am. In your 20s there are so many different feelings as you grow and I think once I hit 30 I really settled into myself and had more peace of mind. I was more comfortable in my own skin.

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

I am excited to see what the future holds.I believe that anything is possible. That with hard work and determination you can do anything. I still dream big so I hope to be acting and designing jewelry, and traveling. I hope that I am an inspiring, fun-loving mother to my two children Juliet and Jagger and a good wife to my husband.

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

“Let go and let god” I love.. also another favorite my acting teacher and mentor showed me : “what is to give light must endure burning”- Viktor E. Frankl

connect with veronique : jewelry / website / instagram @ veroniquevicaribarnes