2 weeks ago, I celebrated my birthday. It was not an extra ordinary birthday, which means it was one of those birthdays that gets blends with usual day and unusual things. It was unusual because I was with my parents (on my birthday) after many years. But at the same time, it was inconsequential because this was not a day to celebrate anything. It was actually one of the “something” birthdays.
A day before, on 31st of July, my father retired from his 38 years long work life. We knew how difficult the day of retirement was for the Man of our house, my close- to-60 father, who always had a special love for his office. So, the whole family was emotional and was trying to look normal to camouflage their feelings. Next day, my birthday started with wishing good bye to my sister and my cousins who came to be present on the day of Papa’s retirement. Although things were little tender, my sister and her husband brought a cake for me. I happened to cut the cake early morning so that they and other of my cousins can stand the birthday protocol. My mother was also involved in giving me some birthday feel. She was both unwell and sentimental as her younger daughter (my sister) was about to leave in few next hours, still, she tried her best to look cheerful. She got me a beautiful rose from our own garden. Soon, everyone left and there were only three and a half people in our house; Papa, Amma, I and my 3-year-old. My "something" birthday started but there was a loony quietness in the air.
I forced Amma to take some rest and I myself sailed through the ocean of my thoughts with witnessing this thirty something birthday of mine. I have already entered into my thirties two years ago. But that day I realized how things have changed with being a thirty-something woman.
I am in those years of my life when everything is about settling in better, cleaner and simpler way. Those years, when you don’t feel like fighting and chasing many things at the same time. But you have to. It’s the time when life is good, and everything seems possible. It is also the occasional (shorter) stretch of time when everything seems wrong, life is hard, and some things feel impossible. You notice wrinkles coming on your face and you pledge to find a good anti-aging crème. It is about not liking makeup every day but trying to look as beautiful as you were during twenties. It is also about knowing which bronze and nude lipstick shade suit you, but occasionally trying deep red for feeling like a DIVA.
Thirty-something is reheating the food and eating that cold again. It is going to bed at 11:00 on a Saturday night and feeling good about it. And it is waking up at 6:30 even on weekends to get your chores done. It’s about wearing comfortable pajamas, bras, and kurtas. It is also realizing that you need YOGA even though you hate doing it.
I am living those years of my life when nights are for tucking my tot into the bed sharp at 10 PM and resuming my work afterward. It’s waking up in the middle of the night to check if the bed is still dry. It’s about saying NO more than often and mastering it saying in a polite way. It’s seeing your aging parents. It’s appreciating them for making you and raising you. It’s fearing their loss and eventually thinking about life’s universal truth. It’s then coming back to walk inside a positive tunnel and vow to make every day happier.
I am exactly in those years of my life when I am feeling both young and old, as I have friends of all age groups. It’s about celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and successes online and meeting less with your known ones.
You know,thirty-something birthday means not celebrating it like when you were young. But when your childhood friend comes home, talking about your school days and laughing like mads. It’s the time when your husband text you happy birthday at 12 midnight but doesn’t care to take you out for a dinner date.
Thirty-something is feeling wiser, having a little more common sense, and knowing exactly what the words “Priority” and “Responsibility” literally mean.
I am in those years of my life..
(first posted here : https://www.mycity4kids.com/parenting/cooperation-communication-and-affection-thee-keys-of-parenting/article/two-weeks-ago-i-celebrated-my-thirty-something-birthday)
A day before, on 31st of July, my father retired from his 38 years long work life. We knew how difficult the day of retirement was for the Man of our house, my close- to-60 father, who always had a special love for his office. So, the whole family was emotional and was trying to look normal to camouflage their feelings. Next day, my birthday started with wishing good bye to my sister and my cousins who came to be present on the day of Papa’s retirement. Although things were little tender, my sister and her husband brought a cake for me. I happened to cut the cake early morning so that they and other of my cousins can stand the birthday protocol. My mother was also involved in giving me some birthday feel. She was both unwell and sentimental as her younger daughter (my sister) was about to leave in few next hours, still, she tried her best to look cheerful. She got me a beautiful rose from our own garden. Soon, everyone left and there were only three and a half people in our house; Papa, Amma, I and my 3-year-old. My "something" birthday started but there was a loony quietness in the air.
I forced Amma to take some rest and I myself sailed through the ocean of my thoughts with witnessing this thirty something birthday of mine. I have already entered into my thirties two years ago. But that day I realized how things have changed with being a thirty-something woman.
I am in those years of my life when everything is about settling in better, cleaner and simpler way. Those years, when you don’t feel like fighting and chasing many things at the same time. But you have to. It’s the time when life is good, and everything seems possible. It is also the occasional (shorter) stretch of time when everything seems wrong, life is hard, and some things feel impossible. You notice wrinkles coming on your face and you pledge to find a good anti-aging crème. It is about not liking makeup every day but trying to look as beautiful as you were during twenties. It is also about knowing which bronze and nude lipstick shade suit you, but occasionally trying deep red for feeling like a DIVA.
Thirty-something is reheating the food and eating that cold again. It is going to bed at 11:00 on a Saturday night and feeling good about it. And it is waking up at 6:30 even on weekends to get your chores done. It’s about wearing comfortable pajamas, bras, and kurtas. It is also realizing that you need YOGA even though you hate doing it.
I am living those years of my life when nights are for tucking my tot into the bed sharp at 10 PM and resuming my work afterward. It’s waking up in the middle of the night to check if the bed is still dry. It’s about saying NO more than often and mastering it saying in a polite way. It’s seeing your aging parents. It’s appreciating them for making you and raising you. It’s fearing their loss and eventually thinking about life’s universal truth. It’s then coming back to walk inside a positive tunnel and vow to make every day happier.
I am exactly in those years of my life when I am feeling both young and old, as I have friends of all age groups. It’s about celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and successes online and meeting less with your known ones.
You know,thirty-something birthday means not celebrating it like when you were young. But when your childhood friend comes home, talking about your school days and laughing like mads. It’s the time when your husband text you happy birthday at 12 midnight but doesn’t care to take you out for a dinner date.
Thirty-something is feeling wiser, having a little more common sense, and knowing exactly what the words “Priority” and “Responsibility” literally mean.
I am in those years of my life..
(first posted here : https://www.mycity4kids.com/parenting/cooperation-communication-and-affection-thee-keys-of-parenting/article/two-weeks-ago-i-celebrated-my-thirty-something-birthday)
Happy birthday belated!
ReplyDeleteThe other side of 30 is all about being wiser! And, as you said doing things as they should be done and not necessarily because we want to do them ;)
Wish you a very Happy Birthday. Thirty-something is feeling wiser, having a little more common sense, and knowing exactly what the words “Priority” and “Responsibility” literally mean. - So agree to this
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I totally resonate with how you have described your 30 something years, especially the line "I am in those years of my life when everything is about settling in better, cleaner and simpler way". This is exactly how I feel at 30-something myself.
ReplyDeleteI love this post. I totally resonate with how you have described your 30 something years, especially the line "I am in those years of my life when everything is about settling in better, cleaner and simpler way". This is exactly how I feel at 30-something myself.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, I loved reading your post. I am in 30's :P I love the feeling 30 gave me and soon I will be 40 and I wish I should stay positive with my each passing year.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to each and everything your wrote Shipra. I will be 40 soon and its a mixed feeling. We know time is passing very fast and we also know we cant do anything about it but just try to make each day happy. Good one.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday. Good times always pass fast and that's what we need to focus on!
ReplyDelete