Woman's Reminder That Life Doesn't End at 30 Goes Viral: 'Never Settle'

Turning 30 can feel like a seminal moment, leaving many people panicking that they haven't accomplished their life goals—the wedding, the house, the family. They're left asking themselves, where did it all go wrong?

But before diving into a quarter life crisis, confidence coach Julia Mazur is here to show that turning 30 really isn't a bad thing, and there's still plenty of time left to achieve your goals. Life can be complicated, and everyone's got their own trajectory, which is why the podcast host told Newsweek that she wants people to "create the lives that they want for themselves," rather than the life someone else shaped.

After recently turning the big 3-0 herself, Mazur is showing that, in the end, age is just a number. Success is deeply personal, and it can represent different things to everyone, so sometimes you just have to block out the noise and focus on yourself.

Mazur, from Austin, Texas, said: "People expect to have a career, be able to afford a house, find a partner, and be ready to settle down and have kids by the time they're 30. Unfortunately, society has adopted this idea that happiness must look like a traditional life, or you're doing it wrong.

"I've watched a lot of my friends get married and have children, and I tried to do the same, but I was deeply unhappy because I felt like I was checking off a box to appease others. I realized that's not the only thing that can make you feel fulfilled, and there are other worthwhile paths. I'm 30 and single, and feel very fulfilled by my life, my career, my friends, my family."

Her positive message has been a relief to many, as on January 16 she shared a video on TikTok (@pmdpod) to remind people that "life doesn't end at 30." In the clip, which has since gone viral with more than 867,000 views and 58,800 likes, she lists Amal Clooney, Salma Hayek, and Cameron Diaz as women who all married or had families later in life and yet no one questions their success.

The average age at which people get married (for the first time) has risen gradually in recent decades, and in 2023, the U.S. Census estimated that most brides are aged around 28, while grooms are typically around 30.

Of course, there is often pressure to have a ring on your finger, but that's not the only thing, because many 20-somethings also see getting onto the property ladder as a mark of success. But if you haven't ticked that box off by the age of 30, you aren't alone, as the National Association of Realtors estimates that the average first-time buyer was 36 years old in 2022—higher than ever before.

So, for anyone yet to accomplish these major milestones, Mazur is here to show that they shouldn't "be afraid of what society tells them." On her podcast, Pretty Much Done, she speaks to people who chose their own path in life and did what made them happy, and now they are living successful and fulfilling lives. "Our happiness is for us to determine," she added.

How Did Social Media React?

After posting the clip on TikTok revealing how old many of Hollywood's most successful women were when they started their own families, Mazur explained that she wanted to show the human side to these incredible women. They might have it all now, but they would have faced their own struggles before, and they still made it out on top.

"All of the women I included are beyond accomplished in their careers, beautiful, and smart, and I am sure have been made to feel like they could end up as a spinster. It felt important to show these examples because, despite being notable figures, they are humans," Mazur said.

"I really hope that people who consume my content feel less alone and never settle because society is pressuring them to."

Since it went viral, more than 600 people have commented on the post already to praise Mazur for her uplifting message, and to share their own personal successes.

One comment reads: "The universe isn't on a timeline. Enjoy yourself."

Another TikTok user wrote: "This made me stop crying in real time. Thank you."

While one person joked: "Got engaged on my 37th birthday a few weeks ago. Now I know I just skipped a divorce."

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