It's such a shame that we feel so much pressure to cram experiences, success, and even self-discovery into a short window. I remember feeling old even at the age of 6 (telling my grandpa it was too late for me to learn our family's language T_T). I entered my 30s recently too and ironically, I feel so much younger than I did as a kid. In a way, adulthood brings a clarity that those arbitrary milestones in our younger years don’t actually define us. There's so much joy in realizing that life is expansive, and we can reinvent ourselves over and over.
p.s early early bedtime + morning cycles then a homemade savoury breakfast is top tier!!
Absolutely! I've just returned from a two-week trip back to see family in East Asia and just now realised how much pressure we face in the Western world. 30 is such a weird 'cut-off' to impose on people?! Thanks for your kind insightful comment, Jenny ❤️
"There is so much joy in realizing that life is expansive." That is what I am feeling towards aging and living a life but didn't know how to put it in words! Thank you, Jenny.
I love this - I’m loving reading perspectives of people in their thirties (and beyond!) and it’s giving me so much hope. I turn 30 in a few months and I feel there’s a lot of cultural hysteria around it (for women in particular) but honestly, I’m kind of looking forward to it at this point
I'm really happy that I quietly turned 30 in one of the many lockdowns. It meant I avoided most of the hysteria, but that I could celebrate how I wanted to – quietly. Without adding to aforementioned cultural hysteria, it truly is nothing to fear! Enjoy the final part of your twenties and you'll step into 30 with so much clarity.
This is so lovely to read. I was thinking recently how good it is to be able to focus on 'ease', on being at ease with old things, in finding ease in the new days.
I think your twenties can be really an unsettled time, for lots of us we have been hurt by then but also we are finding our way in the world. Many people haven't committed to a particular life or career path. And that's daunting. And then as the years go by you kind of realise that you see your values in your habits, and that make you who you are, not the social media bios or careers or aesthetic or whatever.
I feel like there was such pressure even at school to have 'found your path' by your twenties. I used to hold such shame in not feeling 100% in my job, not having had a long-term partner, not knowing where I wanted to live and be. Now I realise there's much more to life than that!
Couldn't agree more. 20s are a riotous fuckup preparing you for more peace, understanding, and acceptance in your 30s. So far, my 30s outshine my 20s in literally every single way — you could pay me to go back there!
Having figured out everything in your 20s is such a myth! It misguided me for the longest period of time, which is why due to recent unfolding of events my emotions got impacted negatively. It tool me 1.5 months to realize that I don’t need to have everything figured out now and this realization has been a true blessing. I loved reading how life can be so beautiful in 30s in your blog and hope mine turns out to be the same!
This made me cry! What a beautiful reflection on your 20s and early 30s - where you're currently at sounds absolutely wonderful and I'm so pleased you've got to that place 🫶
I can't believe my piece inspired this gorgeous piece of writing, thank you so much xxx
Thank you for this Michelle, your words of wisdom are always such a comfort! It brings me so much peace of mind to know that you've been there, done that and you're perfectly content. Your days at 33 sound like bliss. Also, waiting for the day that I see someone that I knew from school and don't frantically try and hide!
This was such a beautiful and much needed read, thank you 🤍 Although I’m somewhat nervous to say goodbye to my 20s next year, I am excited for that moment when things click and I believe in myself more and feel more confident.
I'm so glad it found you Jenna ❤️ I genuinely believe that with each year, we step a little more into ourselves. Life is just a classroom and the more we experience, the more we learn about ourselves!
It's such a shame that we feel so much pressure to cram experiences, success, and even self-discovery into a short window. I remember feeling old even at the age of 6 (telling my grandpa it was too late for me to learn our family's language T_T). I entered my 30s recently too and ironically, I feel so much younger than I did as a kid. In a way, adulthood brings a clarity that those arbitrary milestones in our younger years don’t actually define us. There's so much joy in realizing that life is expansive, and we can reinvent ourselves over and over.
p.s early early bedtime + morning cycles then a homemade savoury breakfast is top tier!!
Absolutely! I've just returned from a two-week trip back to see family in East Asia and just now realised how much pressure we face in the Western world. 30 is such a weird 'cut-off' to impose on people?! Thanks for your kind insightful comment, Jenny ❤️
I’m traveling through SEA rn as well and I have a sense of what you mean 🥹 Hope to hear your insights soon.
"There is so much joy in realizing that life is expansive." That is what I am feeling towards aging and living a life but didn't know how to put it in words! Thank you, Jenny.
It truly is! 💗🪽🪽
I love this - I’m loving reading perspectives of people in their thirties (and beyond!) and it’s giving me so much hope. I turn 30 in a few months and I feel there’s a lot of cultural hysteria around it (for women in particular) but honestly, I’m kind of looking forward to it at this point
I'm really happy that I quietly turned 30 in one of the many lockdowns. It meant I avoided most of the hysteria, but that I could celebrate how I wanted to – quietly. Without adding to aforementioned cultural hysteria, it truly is nothing to fear! Enjoy the final part of your twenties and you'll step into 30 with so much clarity.
I feel exactly the same! People ask if I feel pressure with the big 3-0 coming up soon and I am just excited for it in the most positive way.
And you SHOULD be excited!! My thirties have been so completely great!
This is so lovely to read. I was thinking recently how good it is to be able to focus on 'ease', on being at ease with old things, in finding ease in the new days.
I think your twenties can be really an unsettled time, for lots of us we have been hurt by then but also we are finding our way in the world. Many people haven't committed to a particular life or career path. And that's daunting. And then as the years go by you kind of realise that you see your values in your habits, and that make you who you are, not the social media bios or careers or aesthetic or whatever.
Thanks El! It's a real luxury to be at ease ❤️
I feel like there was such pressure even at school to have 'found your path' by your twenties. I used to hold such shame in not feeling 100% in my job, not having had a long-term partner, not knowing where I wanted to live and be. Now I realise there's much more to life than that!
Thank you for writing this, I just turned 27 and am having a little crisis about aging, and your post made me feel so much calmer!!
I'm so glad it resonated, Angana! Ageing is such a privilege – I feel like I become more myself with every year that I experience.
Couldn't agree more. 20s are a riotous fuckup preparing you for more peace, understanding, and acceptance in your 30s. So far, my 30s outshine my 20s in literally every single way — you could pay me to go back there!
All of this!!
Having figured out everything in your 20s is such a myth! It misguided me for the longest period of time, which is why due to recent unfolding of events my emotions got impacted negatively. It tool me 1.5 months to realize that I don’t need to have everything figured out now and this realization has been a true blessing. I loved reading how life can be so beautiful in 30s in your blog and hope mine turns out to be the same!
Totally! I don't have things figured out now, but I honestly feel like I get a step closer each day.
needed to hear this <3
I'm so glad it found you ❤️
This made me cry! What a beautiful reflection on your 20s and early 30s - where you're currently at sounds absolutely wonderful and I'm so pleased you've got to that place 🫶
I can't believe my piece inspired this gorgeous piece of writing, thank you so much xxx
Just loving my little life these days ❤️ And of COURSE, I knew I needed to pen a creative response!
Thank you for this Michelle, your words of wisdom are always such a comfort! It brings me so much peace of mind to know that you've been there, done that and you're perfectly content. Your days at 33 sound like bliss. Also, waiting for the day that I see someone that I knew from school and don't frantically try and hide!
Thank you so much Ella!
Never going to stop being an Eldest Daughter and big sister tbh, and always happy to share my semi-wisdom.
This was such a beautiful and much needed read, thank you 🤍 Although I’m somewhat nervous to say goodbye to my 20s next year, I am excited for that moment when things click and I believe in myself more and feel more confident.
I'm so glad it found you Jenna ❤️ I genuinely believe that with each year, we step a little more into ourselves. Life is just a classroom and the more we experience, the more we learn about ourselves!
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