The Big Three Oh
I recently turned 30. Contrary to popular opinion, I’m really not minding turning older. When I put some thought into it, I realized it’s because I did everything in a timely way — lived a happy childhood, worked hard and did well at school, enjoyed college, partied, dated, started working and earning, succeeded at work, failed at various things, took risks. I wouldn’t go back and undo any of the things I did, so it lets me peacefully move on and embrace the next phase of my life.
I’m not superhuman, I did go through the “I’m-turning-30-and-have-not-changed-the-world-yet” anxiety-inducing school of thought as well. 30 IS the universally propagated milestone of achievement, and I too had high expectations of myself for when I’d hit the three-decade mark. You go through it only to realize that plans and goals change, and you win some, you lose some. While I didn’t achieve EXACTLY what I wanted (don’t get personal, you’re not getting details), I gained so much of what I didn’t expect which pleasantly surprised me. I was talking to a friend the other day and he said “45 is the new 30” when were we talking about professional achievement. Hopefully, we’ll high five about it 15 years from now!
One more thing which jumped out at me was how well I started understanding my body and its needs. How much sleep I need, what foods work for me, what don’t. What I still haven’t figured out is how to lose the weight I put on during my corporate job. Hopefully that’s going to be an early-30s discovery.
Being a millennial is hard! Our parents had it easy, imho — straightforward goals, not much choice, not much competition, less technology and therefore less awareness which ultimately is more blissful? Parents who think we’re not living a life fraught with struggle should be reborn as millennials to experience it.
To everyone freaking out about life, I want to say — breathe. You aren’t alone, and you’ll be fine. Basically, you turn 30 and so many things that happened just start making sense all of a sudden. You connect the dots, and what upset you a few years ago, induces a sense of relief for having happened. What made you happy a few years ago still makes you happy. You, more often than not, feel glad you took a chance on something. The only things you regret are the opportunities you let go of. Some people drop out of your life — some you’re fine with, some you’re not. Either way, your life moves on, and you’re ultimately better for it.
