You know you’re in your 30s when…

If there’s one advantage of being in your 30s, I’d say it’s the fact that you finally run out of fucks to give to a lot of things in life. I mean you’ve already spent your 20s trying to figure out how you look, making sure you have the latest stilettos, dancing into the night in those said stilettos even though they completely make your feet feel like they’re about to die and fall off and…you get the drift.

30s on the other hand come with years of tried and tested things, and simply, not giving a damn. I mean, there are real life issues to deal with now. But that’s another post for another time.

But here are some things that have definitely changed in the last few years of my life:

1. I no longer pretend to like music. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t dislike music. I’m just…indifferent to it. Like if we were attacked by aliens tomorrow which caused music to disappear from this world, I probably won’t even notice. But this piece of information is met with such wide open mouths and many more not so innocent reactions – What! How can you not like music?! How do you even live?! Well…quite peacefully. And without the added pressure of keeping up with the latest releases, thank you very much.
2. I no longer pretend to like people. Life’s just too short. I mean, you’d never catch me dead saying YOLO and all, but it definitely takes too much effort to be around people that don’t make you feel like your best self. It just isn’t worth it.
3. I try not to bother being conscious about not making conversation. Some of this flows from point no. 2. But mostly it’s just because of the introvert that I am. I’m not bad at one-on-one conversations, but put me in the middle of a big group of people, most of whom know each other better than they know me – and well, I clam up. And I really don’t mind it. If I can’t really be myself, then I prefer just not…being. And while this point is still something I’m struggling with (They must think I’m so boring… Why am I not talking… Should I say this? Do they think I’m a weirdo for just being here and not contributing to the conversation?), I feel like I’m closer to just accepting things, and being okay with it. I’m an introvert. Go deal with it.
4. Flat shoes and comfortable clothes. Yup. Enough said.
5. I don’t need to be high to be cool. Or to speak my mind. Or dance. Or hit on that boy (the last point might be an issue with my husband, but you know, I mean if I had to hit on a boy…). So this realisation was thrust on me even when I didn’t ask for it. With my body suddenly rejecting alcohol and anything else. So I’m learning this the hard way. And then realising, what was I even thinking?! It’s okay to enjoy an evening without that impending hangover.
6. You realise it’s okay to spend your entire weekend in bed, and just smile when a 20-something asks you – so what did you do this weekend? Nothing, absolutely nothing. And it was bliss, kid.
7. I no longer do things that I don’t want to. Except when it’s a family thing. Because Indian families…well that’s a completely different ball game. I’m not sure I’ll be free of some of those traditions or obligations anytime during this lifetime. And they definitely don’t give a fuck if you’re in 30s. Trust me, I know.

On the other hand, it’s Monday morning, and that’s one thing that hasn’t gotten any better with the 30s. 40s, maybe?