Turning 30



Turning 30


I just turned 30 and it’s amusing that I’ve had people making a huge deal out of this march ahead into a new decade. I hear my peers sympathising over “30," saying it in whispered tones and with the feel of something that shouldn’t be named (sounds like Voldy, eh?)

Well, ‘30’ is probably one of the most intriguing milestones in one’s life. It is kind of an inflection point (math & stats experts would love this metaphor!) where you might witness a sharp change in your fortunes, be it from bad to good or the other way round. Financially, you might be going above the ‘X’ axis but your body graph starts going below it! ‘30’ is hard to classify as old or young. For starters, you may be perceived as ‘old’ by the bunch of kids playing in your housing society or by the group of college-going students in a hangout place. However, the professional industry will still think you as a greenhorn or newbie since you would be having less than 6-7 years of work experience.

I think some people are scared of 30 because it feels like the end of youth, that it’s a distinct marker between being young and getting older. To someone finishing his education, it taunts them that they should be earning. To the bachelor, pressure to get married hangs overhead like the sword of Damocles. And to the married, it starts ringing an alarm to bear kids! For my female colleagues, it sounds like a limited period offer flashing – “Open for baby making business …For a limited time only… the Baby Making Machine is 80% off!” Also, 30 is the period when the little wrinkles that form by the side of your eyes when you smile will probably stay after the smile subsides, your head starts getting into autumn / fall season with no spring in sight and the beginnings of a small paunch become visible. At 30, you are expected to shoulder responsibilities of not only your spouse & younger ones but also your parents. Indeed, it looks like a heartless world out there.

I beg to differ. It’s hard trying to measure up when you’ve created an imaginary ruler in your mind. And I think it’s easy to get caught up with dreading birthdays rather than celebrating them. But when you really think about it, is there a more joyous occasion than marking the passing of a year, noting all of its lessons, trials and triumphs, and gearing up for a new one?

To me, turning 30 is exciting. At this juncture, more often than not, you have settled into a good role professionally, you are earning well, settled financially. Most of us would have finished around 5-7 years of work-experience and at this point, we know who we are, what we want out of life and most likely figured out how to get there. There is a sense of having some expertise that has arisen out of the experience – be it domain, functional, technical etc. The early tumultuous days of finding your feet in the corporate world are over and you can look forward to consolidating over this wonderful foundation that has been built. You are financially secure to some extent, can actually purchase that fancy gizmo, luxury watch or the foreign trip that so far you had only aspired.

Even as your body starts to age, other things may be just beginning to blossom. The self-confidence that comes with growing older has been one of my happiest discoveries. It is okay to be yourself, even if other people don't like it. You are not affected by vanity trends or the pressure to have your picture ‘liked’ by n number of connections. You can actually be yourself. In most cases, you are yet to expand your family and parents more likely are well-off physically as well as financially. This is the period where you can relax, loosen-up some restraint and live for yourself before the domestic responsibilities start kicking in. Your social circle starts growing smaller, which is probably a good thing, because you will relinquish the side-dishes and make your network tighter by retaining the quality connections whom you can bank on for fun, help, advice.

My 20’s were like the stepping stones to get to where I needed to be by 30. I can proudly look back on my 20’s and remember all that I learned, all of the mistakes I made, all of the heartbreaks, ups and downs, and trying to find myself. With a loving wife who will be my constant partner in the journey ahead, and ably supported by strong edifices that are my parents, I look forward to the newer decade and the glorious uncertainties it has to offer! And I hope you’ll join me…

******

Comments

Unknown said…
Good one Nikhil,i can relate to this in the truest sense. Still to decide- getting ripened or getting old?
August 1, 2016 at 3:32 AM
Anonymous said…
Good one !!
April 14, 2020 at 10:53 PM
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