Why being a grown-up rocks!

When I was in my early 20s I thought anyone over 30 was ‘old’. Not that I thought that was bad, I just thought 30 was old. I remember speaking to 30-somethings thinking they were so mature, and old. Then when I hit 26 I had my petrified-to-get-old moment, and briefly pined for the youth of my early 20s. Then I hit 30, got married, had a baby and realised life had in fact only just truly started.

♥ I love that I can look back and laugh at my younger self, thinking I knew it all. That arrogance I had when I was in my 20s must have annoyed more mature folks. What did I know? Not a lot.

♥ I like that I am now less selfish. As a teenager and 20-something it was all about me. My focus barely extended outside of me and what I needed or what I wanted. I look back and cringe at the way I put myself before everyone else. Now I am glad my heart genuinely puts others first. And I am glad that I naturally want to help others and am much more considerate of others’ feelings and needs.

♥ I don’t miss the disco-‘til-dawn days. God I don’t miss them! How did I ever enjoy rolling out of clubs at dawn, smelling of cigarette smoke, to then spend half the day in bed? Some of my favourite memories are of when I travelled in my mid 20s, staying out all night and sleeping all day without a care in the world. But how did I do it back home with a job to go to, spending my days off sleeping to feel human again? Although they were fun at the time (some of my favourite laughs are from those days) I sure don’t miss that.

♥ I dress much more appropriately…and comfortably. Sure I wear stilettos but how on earth did I wear strappy shoes with toes exposed and summer clothes in winter in the middle of the night? Slave to fashion all right. Ridiculous.

♥ I love that I am more comfortable in my own skin. Having toned pins and thinking I was ‘fat’ in my 20s was not very comforting. The lack of self-esteem and worrying about how I looked can’t have been fun, not giving a toss is!

♥ I love knowing myself better. I can think for myself and make choices based on my own past experiences and thoughts. When I was younger I was more easily influenced by others and could easily sway my own opinion by the opinions of others. I had less sense of self and didn’t understand or appreciate consequence as well as I do now. I love the stability that comes with age.

♥ I have developed tastes and interests that are my own and are less influenced by others. I enjoy things because I enjoy them, not because I see others enjoying them. I have also developed interests that I have acquired from my family, in particular my mother. Things I didn’t have an interest in as a 20-something are now the very things that bring me joy – gardening, Finnish design, baking. I am also curious about so many more things – art, crafts, cooking, good food, people, music other than hip hop!

♥ I love being a grown-up. I loved the carefree disco days with girlfriends, the travel, and the lack of financial responsibilities of mortgage and grown-up commitments, however those days were fleeting. Now I feel like I am really living – up until my 30s I was kind of floating along, not really sure where I was meant to be or where I was going. I love the confidence and drive that comes with being a ‘grown-up’.

♥ I care a bit more about the world. I don’t recall having much of a grasp on anything outside of my bedroom as a younger person. Closet, fridge, bed. Nightclubs, work, friends. Now my interests range so much further than the little circle I lived in as a younger person. My concerns run wider than how much money I have or what I will wear on Saturday night, and I love that.

♥ I love the confidence to speak my mind that has come with age. When I was younger I often bit my tongue, mostly as I wasn’t keen on conflict but also I didn’t have the skills I have now to speak my mind without offending. I like that although I have put my foot in my mouth many times in the past, I now have the knowledge and experience in knowing how to speak to people honestly without offending. I also don’t take offence when people are honest with me.

♥ I love that I can be me, daggy, old me. I no longer feel the need to be ‘cool’. I can drive in silence and don’t need loud music to entertain me. I enjoy my own company. I don’t get bored. I am not afraid to get old, in fact I look forward to it.

♥ And mostly I love that I can now enjoy the small moments. As a 20-something I had no idea what small moments were, let alone know how to really enjoy them. I love that I now get that small moments are what make life truly amazing. All the disco-‘til-dawn days (and there were a few) can never, ever compare to that.