Almost 30

When I was younger, people often made turning 30 seem like one of the worst things that could happen to a person. TV shows, media, and even supposedly innocent jokes somehow convinced us that growing older was something to be ashamed of.

I was always anxious about getting older.

Now that I'm almost 30, I honestly don't understand why.

For better or for worse, I'm so happy to have a fully developed frontal lobe. I have fewer expectations and a stronger sense of security. It feels awesome (despite sounding a tad sad).

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I guess, to some extent, the high highs and low lows of my early and mid-20s are exactly why I enjoy life so much more now.

You know what they say: you have to go through the storm to see the rainbow. Had I avoided those experiences, I don't think I'd be where I am today.
Ironically, the things that move your life forward are often the very things you'd never choose for yourself.

I actually said something along these lines in my latest job interview. I lowkey think that's what sealed the deal.

The interviewer asked, "Is it safe to assume that you're someone who enjoys challenges?"

I was like, "That is absolutely not what I meant."

I love a soft life.

But life is funny like that. Or maybe human beings are.

Somehow, the difficult parts of it end up bringing you exactly where you need to be. Even so, with every fiber of my being, I'd still like to wonder, "Why?"

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Maybe that's also why I've become an even stronger believer in Islam as I've gotten older. Maybe it's also because we're living through such a strange time, with peaking capitalism and somehow accepted open genocide. The older I get, the more everything Islam teaches simply makes sense to me.

This world was never meant to be the ultimate reward, no matter how hard you work. It's a test, not the destination.

Looking back now, I feel like all those highs and lows were simply leading me toward becoming who I was supposed to be. The things you think you'll love, the things you swear you'll never do, the person you think you'll become... baby you might surprise yourself.

Apart from the superior metabolism and nice, nice skin, I think your 20s are meant for the fireworks:
The opportunity to have many trials and errors.
The second, third, and fourth chances.
The ghetto-style travels.
The working in remote mountain range situation.
The mind-bogglingly questionable life decisions.
The unexpected friendships and the expected heartbreaks.
All while figuring out where you're meant to be.

I'm not even 30 yet, and here I am already looking back at my 20s through rose-colored glasses (as if they didn't put me through multiple existential spirals!!)

Maybe that's the thing about growing older: you don't stop appreciating your younger self because life was easy, you appreciate them because they made you be where you're supposed to be.