30 is not the new 20

I watched this talk maybe a year ago and it got me thinking. I was already 30, so I was under no illusions about having time to get my life together. But it did make me reflect on how I got to where I am now, and what I want to do next.

I am lucky in that I had already found and married my life mate. I am also lucky that I spent a large chunk of my 20’s pursing (and often failing) certain jobs and careers that I felt were my calling. So that when I got to 31, and had a bad manager who was trying to pin me under her thumb, I knew that this was not what I wanted, and walked out.

But, the thing that I struggle with is knowing that I am doing the right thing, and not freaking out about it. I spent a lot of time in my 20’s lamenting about how I wasn’t partying enough, experiencing enough. Now in my early 30’s, I feel a bit more grounded than some of my friends who had a more active social life. I am now worried about making the career choices and when I will start a family. It feels that the anxiety never completely goes away.

Watching this talk reminds me that my peers make me feel like I am over concerned and overly ambitious about achieving my life goals. I, on the other hand, am determined to have a life that I want. I try to take things more as they come and not be a worrier. But, I think she has a point—30 is not the new 20. So if you want something you have to go for it now, so that you will have the opportunities to have a life that you really love.

Something to think about.