Going Up the Hill

I recently read this article online a few months ago that men start feeling old at 58. Women, on the other hand, start feeling old at 29. That is quite an astonishing gap, but one I would readily believe. There is something intimidating about the thirties and the feeling of seeing that border approaching is stressful. I blame it on a mix of society pressures and that damn biological clock. Women are supposed to be married and have kids, establish a steady career, or all of the above by this age. The majority of women portrayed in romantic comedies and chick lit books are mostly within the 20-30 age category (or try to pass off to be, even though in reality they are not - ahem, SATC ladies). Even in the days of Jane Austen, her heroines were pretty much considered old maids after 25 (not to mention Jane Austen herself as one of the most famous spinsters of all literature). From a biological standpoint, maybe women are also deemed to be reaching towards their expiration date past 30. At that point, you'd think everything is going to sag towards the floor at the speed of light.

I have to admit being this age myself, I do feel a bit apprehensive as I have not done any of the above things. However, ignoring social age norms for the moment, I do look forward to having a better understanding of myself in my thirties since I feel my twenties were full of uncertainty about my ideal path and myself in general. Not that I feel any wiser at the end of this decade in my life, but perhaps more aware of what my weaknesses.

Yes, at times I do start feeling like an old lady when I have sudden lapses of memory (like, the other day I could barely remember the name of a colleague I used to work with). I do feel overwhelmed with technology and worried that its development will soon lapse my ability to keep up, which I never felt ten years ago. I can barely keep up with the latest Apple inventions, and define an Android. And new artists! Just the other day I asked a friend of mine who is Nicki Minaj? Good lord, I'll be my mother in no time.

Yet, I refuse to let age define me. There are tons of people who think their thirties are the best decade in their lives so far. An age of mature decisions, confidence, and life satisfaction instead of the drunken party days of the twenties. Plus, I just know that someday when I'm 70, I'm going to give anything to be 29 or 30 again so I might as well enjoy every moment and not be bound by a number that means nothing!