In 2007 few days before my birthday, I started blogging as witsandnuts. Guess what? I started another blog few days ago. I write random thoughts there. I write as if no one else is reading it (although entries are not password-protected). So don’t ask for any URL. Find it if you can. I’m sure you wouldn’t. 😀 I’d like to share this entry from there, by the way.
ON TURNING 30
I still find it weird when people gets horrified to turn 30.
When a friend turned 30 last year, she sent me a (multiple times) forwarded email justifying why a woman should be glad when she’s finally of that age. I thought it sounded like sourgraping. I cared less. After all, I’m only 29.
Then recently she happily emailed me to let me know that she’s glad that we’ll soon be of the same age. Duh. 😀 I corrected it’s not fair to conclude that way. We have different audit cut-offs and/or fiscal year (we’re both Accountants/Auditors, by the way). “I’m turning 30 in a few hours while you’re going 31 this October. We’re of the same fiscal year only if you’ve just turned 30 last May or June.” Of course, we were just teasing each other. I conceded, “Okay, we’re of the same age. Whatever. Just to make you happy. Hahaha.”
I don’t mind getting old, that is. As I remember, I am (was) in a hurry to get old or at least I want to start early. It’s not really tantamount to being impatient about life, but wanting to know what’s next even if it sometimes takes trailing the road less traveled.
On rare occasions, I thought I have an abnormal sequencing. No one amongst my family and relatives can testify that I actually crawled as a baby. Even the baby pictures surrendered. The best of their memories announce that I skipped the crawling stage and just found me already sitting one day. I was moving backwards while Indian seated, will that qualify as crawling? Then I skipped kindergarten, I was five when I was in first grade. I was 19 during the first semester in college. Hence my batchmates are older than me. I prefer to eat after brushing my teeth, the list goes on.
When I was 11 and still playing piko, I wanted to be 13 so that I would know what this teen feeling is all about. When I was 14, I had my first crush (now married) who I eventually found out was everyone’s apple of the eye so I kept it to myself, I was not ready to compete. 🙂 During our highschool reunion in 2006, I learned that my turned gay-friend and I were crushing on the same person. Hahaha. When I was turning 18, I wanted to skip it and jump to being 19. Why? Because I thought 18 is mushy (joke!) that I never had a party as a debutante thinking it’s just a phase that I better spend battling my midterms. I wanted to be 19 already because that would mean I would be graduating soon, take the board exams and can finally have a boyfriend (LOL!). Seriously, I was so excited to join the workforce and change the world. Hahaha.
When my batchmates turned 20, some of them were so jealous that I’m still within the teen bracket (Aha! That must be the same feeling for the 29 to 30 transition.) At 20, the younger ones were teasing me that I’m already old. I felt otherwise. I actually felt the youngest. The youngest one at work, trying to prove herself, explore the world, etc.
Fastforward. At 25, I begun to appreciate the coined term ” quarter-life crisis”, not necessarily because I seriously went through it. Then eventually learned that everyone swims through it, that it will embrace a person regardless of age bracket, and that it’s vicious. I also realized that the younger generations are becoming more respectful. A lot of people including strangers started to call me “Ate” although we’re not related and “Madam” (ack!), punctuated by “po” and “opo”. Until I spent time with my younger cousins who no longer have pony tails but sided and full bangs, no longer chat about dolls and cartoons, but giggle about and even asked me about boys and consulted me on what they intend to do when they join the workforce. Totoo nga, tumatanda na’ko.
At 26, something happened that made me realize that I’ve indeed walked on the road less traveled. I was certain, my mind became (twice) older than my biological age. And the way I see it now, it seems I’ve stopped counting since then. I begun to live each day as it comes. I’m not saying that at pre-26, life was not better or less beautiful. It’s just that it’s (always) more sane to… trust God’s time. Rather than thinking that we know better and that we’re invincible. But trust me, I have no room for big regrets. But since I’m human not so often, I had my what ifs and let’s go back to year XXXX moments.
It’s odd and magical how for the longest time, I know that a lot of changes have been transpiring every hour, but at the end of the day I still feel the same. People choose to be on the state of maturity that they think is their comfort zone. That’s why you’d see people you’d never thought are already grandmothers. So, I know that when my parents look at me or at a memory of me – what they see is the same chubby child who didn’t crawl. Do you know why they opt to retain that memory? Because that is probably the first magnanimous feeling parents can have – witnessing the birth and development of their first born.
When I organized our high school reunion in 2006, I thought I wouldn’t be comfortable to mingle with some people. Admit it, you’ll be subdued by this thought when the situation happens. But when the day came, upon seeing each batchmate only random beautiful over not-so-good stuff popped up in my mind. Why? Because I chose to dwell on the more sane feeling. As we did catch up on plenty of chapters that were written about each other’s lives, we didn’t see the physically-transformed-by-time faces, but the innocent and jovial high schools students that we were then.
I’m turning 30 few hours from now. (And I don’t intend to repeat my biological/Earth age in my coming birthdays. So take note, pals.) Honestly, the superficial look of “30” as two digits is really screaming. But I still don’t care. That’s just a number. I think to age gracefully is exciting and challenging. I’m not afraid about each additional year, but I’m scared of being worried itself. Heehee. My biggest worry is how to live longer. Because life is beautiful. I’m sure I’d still say the same when I’m already 50.
So after midnight, I’m already 30. I’d probably say, “When I was younger 30 was OLD, now I feel 30 is young. Seize the day.”
Note: This post has been edited at early morning of July 17. I already took out the collage. It’s intended to be visible only for a very limited time. 😀
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0 thoughts on “On turning 30”
kreez
Happy Birthday Wits! I guess it’s not the age that matters but the fact that you’ve lived the years to the fullest. Stay happy and more blessings to come!
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cza
(advance) HAPPY BIRTHDAY JO! Love love loved your entry. =D
I think to age gracefully is exciting and challenging./
Me too.. another year added marks another milestone and more to look forward to. 😀 Enjoy!
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Josiet
Happy Birthday!!! =)
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luna miranda
great thoughts on your 30th birthday. and a beautiful collage! believe this 43-year old, age is a state of mind. friends and family would remind you—you’re a year older…so what? who isn’t getting older everyday?:P
focus on the good things—on things that made you laugh & giggle and dream, on people who inspire you, who make your life interesting and fun, and you’d be looking forward to more birthdays.
here’s wishing you the best!
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Angeli
happy 30th, Jo! 30 is a fabulous age. embrace it. 🙂
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dong ho
to this post im giving two thumbs up! galing mo sa ganito. such a great way to reminisce and value every year in life.
this made me laugh >”We have different audit cut-offs and/or fiscal year (we’re both Accountants/Auditors, by the way).”
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dyanie
happy bdaaaay my friend!!!! 🙂 mwahz!!! **hugsss** 🙂
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kayni
I absolutely agree – LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. Happy Birthday! Celebrate life.
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jeanny
Happy birthday my Wits. I wish you more happiness as you give happpiness to many (Im a recipient, you know!)
Enjoy your day dear!!!!
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fortuitous faery
I’m surprised at this revealing post! Now I’m not looking at flowers anymore! Hehe. Beautiful collage!
Welcome to Dekada Trenta. 🙂
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Candy
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Wishing you a great one. You’re 30 and fabulous. 🙂
As for people who fear growing old, I remember this quote: “Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege.”
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kg
some of us, when we were young, hurried to “grow up” without realizing that when we get there, we’d be yearning to be young. anyway, i’m happy you’re not thinking too much about the “age”!!!!
happy birthday wits!!! mwah! mwah! higs for you!!! 🙂
by the way,my entry for your contest is up! 🙂
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upto6only
happy birthday. age lang ang tumatanda hindi ang looks 🙂
enjoy your day
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Nomadic Pinoy
Don’t worry about the age, what matters most I believe is how you feel about yourself. Life is truly beautiful so enjoy another milestone in your life!
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caryn
happy birthday jo 😉
you’re right it doesn’t matter what our IDs say, if we keep young at heart, that’s how we’ll always be 😉
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mordsith
i’ve been thinking lately of how old i am already (26). but i guess, when i look at it from another perspective, i’m still young and so many things to conquer!
happy birthday, jo!
🙂
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sheng
Happy Birthday jo, i am 6 months older than you are but yes, at 30, i feel so young, haha…Happy happy birthday dearie… All the best for yah!
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Sleepless In KL
Happy birthday! Funny you should mention the quarter-century-panic-syndrome. I had that, too, but a year earlier (i.e. on my 24th birthday). I felt like, I was almost a quarter of a century old already and “haven’t accomplished” anything yet.
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PM
we are on the same page here. i also love aging LOL
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renin
Happy birthday Ms. JO! ^_^
Its how we live the past years that matters, right? As long as you are happy and made some people happy too is a reason to celebrate another year of being older…
P.S.
I love your article, it made me think that indeed, aging is something more than geter older. It is counting acomplishments and being happy despite all the odds in our life’s journey…
Again, Happy birthday!
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bw
aren’t scared of the saying – “don’t trust anyone over 30” ? 😉 hehe. But hey, happy birthday and may you have many more ! 🙂
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maan
happy 30th! 30s is the new 20s daw (labo, haha). it’s just a number, we’re still fabulous. enjoy and take care!
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Glenda
awww, i missed the collage!
happy big three-oh jo! wishing you continued success in your career, good health and more blessings.
{big huuuug}
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ever
yahoooo yahoooo,
hapibirtdey!
kala ko 24 ka palang!:)
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Nebz
Oh dear me! Reading your post makes me feel old(er). I thought 40 is young. Hindi na pala.
Pero I’m not in the stage of being envious to people younger than I. Cguro pag tumuntong na ako ng 50, un! That’s the time I can say that I’m aging.
I’m 40+ and I still feel young! In fact, I thought my life has just started a few years back.
Happy 30th birthday. Ten more years and you’ll be 40. And THEN you’ll know what I’m trying to say. (O baka naman reverse pscyhology lang talaga un ng mga me edad na. Hmmmm…).
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Leah
I like your last statement :“When I was younger 30 was OLD, now I feel 30 is young. Seize the day.”
In a few months I will turn the big four-Oh! I do hope I will feel young then.
Happy birthday!!!!
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BlogusVox
Belated Happy Birthday, Ate.Jo. : )
Alam mo, this “age thing” among women is just mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter. Besides most men (including me) likes older women. >: D
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witsandnuts
Big thanks to all for the greetings. =)
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Garando
Belated happy birthday Witsandnuts!!
Growing old may be mandatory, but growing up is optional. 😉 Like you said, nothing wrong with being 30. I’m over 30 and it doesn’t feel like I’m even 30 already. 😀
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odette
welcome to the club, thirty and fab! ^-^
when i turned 30, i kept saying 30 over and over again, as the thought of it sounded surreal to me. i wasn’t feeling anything special inside, maybe a little wiser, a little happier, a little more content…
cheers to wonderful years ahead. carpe diem!
ps. i’m still making my entry!
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blue rose
very nice post jo!
belated happy birthday! may all your wishes come true. *hugs*
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jeanny
hahaha oo nga noh. Kaya pala I said to myself na something was missing, yung collage pala. Glad I was able to see before 🙂
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aLiNe
Happy happy! YAY! masaya din naman tumanda .. heehee!
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wanderangel
Happy Birthday Jo! Nice birthday post. Light another candle =)
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jade
Here in Abu Dhabi, Filipinos always get this compliment that we look younger than our age. You’re right, 30 is just a number. Happy Bday Ms. Wits & more power to your blog!
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bem
sarap basahin. belated birthday greetings, jo! all the best. {{hugs}}
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