There are emails and/or articles that you probably encounter a number of times, but you junk it simply because you find it silly or you cannot relate at the moment. Like this 1997 article (often associated with Maya Angelou but is actually written by Pamela Redmond Satran) that I stumbled upon the other day, I can’t believe I paid attention. Maybe because I’m already 30, that I felt it was talking to me. Whether we are of the same age bracket and gender or not, I think you can relate to some of these.
By 30, you should have:
(1) One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
(2) A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.
(3) Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
(4) A purse, a suitcase and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.
(5) A youth you’re content to move beyond.
(6) A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
(7) The realization that you are actually going to have an old age—and some money set aside to help fund it.
(8) An e-mail address, a voice mailbox and a bank account—all of which nobody has access to but you.
(9) A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
(10) One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
(11) A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill and a black lace bra.
(12) Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.
(13) The belief that you deserve it.
(14) A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
(15) A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship and all those other facets of life that do get better.
By 30, you should know:
(1) How to fall in love without losing yourself.
(2) How you feel about having kids.
(3) How to quit a job, break up with a man and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
(4) When to try harder and when to walk away.
(5) How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
(6) The names of: the secretary of state, your great-grandmother and the best tailor in town.
(7) How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
(8) How to take control of your own birthday.
(9) That you can’t change the length of your calves, the width of your hips or the nature of your parents.
(10) That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
(11) What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
(12) That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs or not flossing for very long.
(13) Who you can trust, who you can’t and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
(14) Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.
(15) Why they say life begins at 30.
I wish that aside from blogging about how I felt as I was turning 30, I also came up with a sort of list like this.
Personally, I don’t think the list should be used as a gauge of how well we spend our lives or like there’s some sort of a due date. There are late bloomers, as they say. But we will probably achieve/experience most of these, no matter how young or old we are. Surprisingly (or not), only one of these is I’m still a failure until now – number 14 of the first section. I still feel that I’m invincible although I heard my bones were cracking a few times already. Haha.
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0 thoughts on “When you’re 30”
Photo Cache
I am a late bloomer so some of these in the list that I have never achieved, or will achieve. I’m just like that, and I’m waaaay past 30.
Hey, enjoy your age, whichever you are right now. Every age has its rewards and disappointments, but that’s what makes for a juicy past, isn’t it?
.-= Photo Cache´s last blog ..Most things in life…. =-.
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witsandnuts
I agree every number has its + and – 😉
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angeli
hi witsandnuts.
i’m 31 and it think i’ve got it except for 7 in the first list and 14 in the second. 🙂
getting there, though… 🙂
.-= angeli´s last blog ..Luxuriating in Solitude =-.
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witsandnuts
I had to recheck number 14 – you’re so kind (*hugs*)
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kg
i also do not believe in a definite list. i have only a few check marks on the list, but somehow, I feel happy and fulfilled at 30! Yay! 🙂
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witsandnuts
I agree. It’s enlightening to read the article but it should not affect us much in case some items are still unmarked. As long as we feel good.
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upto6only
hehehe natuwa ako sa post mo. Though I dont feel im more than 30 hahaha. I always think na i’m still 18 hahaha and enjoying those things na hindi ko nagawa before.
.-= upto6only´s last blog ..PHOTOHUNT: Orange =-.
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witsandnuts
I think we stop getting old at 25. Lol. 😀
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emarene
I’m way over 30 — yet there is still a lot I don’t have and I don’t know. Is that sad or bad?
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witsandnuts
Nothing to worry. It’s not really a basis in assessing how good or bad is one’s life. As long as we’re happy. 😀
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iluvgreen
some of these i already have and i already knew. but you are right we all have our own phase. Jo, i starte6 skin regimen when i reached 16 that’s the time when pimples started showing up one by one and until now i have skin regimen that i will carry until i reached 60 eh, gastos ano.
.-= iluvgreen´s last blog ..On my own =-.
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witsandnuts
I guess I need to strategize on a skin regimen soon. 😉
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sheng
Nice list jo, i’m 31 but i still don’t have a black laced bra, hehe, makabili nga.
.-= sheng´s last blog ..Krispy Kreme, Finally! =-.
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witsandnuts
Haha, I’m still laughing out when I remember the reaction in plurk about this bra. 😀 http://www.plurk.com/p/1v5pqp
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bw
I know someone who’s 30 and still doesn’t want to use a cell phone 😳
.-= bw´s last blog ..A Day Trip to the Capital City =-.
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witsandnuts
I remember one of my bosses when I was a newbie in workforce, she said she doesn’t want to use cellfone because it will only make her life complicated. Heehee. 😉
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Daphne
I thought the saying is that life begins at 40? Hehe
.-= Daphne´s last blog ..Jack Bauer =-.
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witsandnuts
Me, too. Since I’m 30, I’m convinced life begins at 30. Then, I will change my belief every year. Next year, I’d say life begins at 31. Haha. 😉
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Rico
I’m actually all for living life according to one’s will, regrets and all. As I said in my recent post, the world demands conformity. It has this idea of who and what we should be. I so agree that lists like this shouldn’t be used to gauge how well a person lived/living.
I’ll be 30 too next month. What is it with this age that makes us think so “maturely?” 🙂
.-= Rico´s last blog ..great expectations =-.
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witsandnuts
I can relate to that post of yours. What’s with being 30? Parang it’s a psyche thing eh ‘no? Like being 25 is associated to having quarter-life crisis. Then after 5 years eh full maturity na (ie. 30).
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redlan
Kakainis naman ikatlong attempt ko na ‘to. Nagha-hang ang computer. tsk tsk.
I-assess ko nga ang self ko sa mga naka-enumerate sa taas. Over 30 na ako ah.
1. Meron ako niyan ah but I never imagine ang nakasaad diyan.
2. Tama to ah pero hindi furniture eh. Gadgets ang sa akin. Nakikitira lang kasi ako sa sis ko.
3. Yes, tama. Applicable to meet a friend.
4. Umbrella sa akin
5. Yes, no further explanation.
6. Sobra ang dami kong sasabihin. great experiences to share.
7. Naisip ko na ‘to bago ako nag-30. Working on it.
8. Meron na, except sa voice mail box.
9. Wala ako nito.
10 Medyo more than one yung friends to laugh with. Ayoko ng cry cry.
11 Wala ako nito ah especially the black lace bra.
12 Meron na.
13 Yes
14 After 30 ko na ginawa yan
15 To do to get better na lang.
I should now naman.
1. Tama
2. Tama
3. Tamang-tama
4. Tumpak
5. Ginawa ko to pero opposite pa rin nangyari. Yung hindi ko gusto. lol
6. Ay weakness ko ang pagmemorize ng mga names.
7. I want to live alone pero hindi ko magawa.
8. Pano ba magcontrol ng birthday? Birth control lang ang alam ko.
9. Hmmm tama.
10 Sa akin ang childhood ko hindi perfect pero i liked it.
11 Minsan wala akong control dyan esp. sa money. Yung love naman wala na.
12 Korek, kanta ka na lang ng nobody
13 Tumpak. At panu ka magreply na hindi ka maiipit
14 Minsan nag-aapologize ako kahit hindi ko kasalan para matapos na pero pagkatapos hindi na ako nagdi-deal sa taong sangkot.
15 Akala ko life begins at 40 pa. Ito ba ang resulta ng short life span? Ayun pala ang sagot.
.-= redlan´s last blog ..THANKS TO YOU! =-.
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witsandnuts
Hahaha, funny talaga yung mga reactions sa black lace bra. http://www.plurk.com/p/1v5pqp
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redlan
i should know pala”
.-= redlan´s last blog ..THANKS TO YOU! =-.
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brattymelai
Like.
Ang happy.
I will turn 25 in a few months and I always do lists of things and stuff that I should’ve realized or done or known in my past birthdays. So this is a fun post for me.
Thanks for sharing.
xxxooo.
brat.
.-= brattymelai´s last blog ..mama’s day =-.
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witsandnuts
You’re welcome. Wow, you’re turning 25 pa lang. I feel so old! Heehee, just kidding. I’d like to do my own list, too. 😉
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kreez
Interesting list! I’m two years away from 30 but i’m sure i’m not going to achieve some of them like no. 1 for example, i only had one BF and i married him hehe…
.-= kreez´s last blog ..Final Trimester Begins =-.
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witsandnuts
Your number 1 is much better!
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jeanny
I have a set of screw drivers, I own a drill and a black laced bra…and yes Im am in my thirties and I am happy! 😉
.-= jeanny´s last blog ..Soon!!! =-.
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witsandnuts
I had to think hard about that number, I never thought I have screw drivers, drill and the now famous (lol) type of bra. 😉
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cza
hmmmm.. something to think about while I’m yet to be 30. 😀
.-= cza´s last blog ..Another (Mis)Adventure =-.
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witsandnuts
Just enjoy the journey!
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Sinta
I’m going to have to dig through your blog to find this post once I turn 30. So many truths in it, although I find I can tick some off now 😀 Life begins at 30. I do indeed believe that.
.-= Sinta´s last blog ..Panda bag =-.
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witsandnuts
I enjoyed realizing/being reminded by some points in this article. 🙂
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dennisvillegas
This post gave me a great idea so I can managed my life more. Sometimes it’s better to have a plan so we can prepare for the future 😉
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witsandnuts
It’s not gauge or must-have list. But there’s some truths in it. 😉
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nhemskie
Hello! I came here from Kayni’s blog. I included you in my blog list, if you wouldn’t mind. Have a nice day, and I think being 30 has its good sides and bad sides too~
.-= nhemskie´s last blog ..Samsung’s AMOLED =-.
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witsandnuts
Yes, each number has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Thanks for visiting. 😀
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blue rose
hehehe. i enjoyed reading this post wits. thanks for sharing this. kaloka naman yong black lace bra ha. meron akong black pero wala syang lace. hehehe
.-= blue rose´s last blog ..Some reasons to be grateful today! =-.
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witsandnuts
Hahaha!
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theLastJedi
‘three years from now, I shall be turning thirty. I am not afraid of getting old. I am scared not being able to grow with it. I dunno if there’s a sure formula or a list to guide us as we turn leaves. I am sure though that the one you posted has some semblance of truth in it.
– cool read you have.. be back for more.. =)
.-= theLastJedi´s last blog ..I Am Not =-.
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witsandnuts
I love growing old. Age is just a number. 😉 I’m more concerned about how I spend my life. Thanks for dropping by.
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nobe
hmmmm.. so far, so good.
love,
nobe
.-= nobe´s last blog ..MORE IMPORTANT =-.
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witsandnuts
Nice to hear that. Happy weekend!
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