30 Lessons from someone who just turned 30 (and honestly the last time she’s accepting that she turned 30)

Well that was a clickbait (30 lessons from a 30-year old sounds better after all), I don’t think I have those many lessons.

Maybe 20. 21 at max if I fabricate things.?

I turned 30 this July 30th: the one ‘30 on 30’ no one can take away from me.??

If someone told me in my 20s that I would still be in college when I turn 30, I’d call them crazy. If someone told me I’d re-learn (or learn) Statistics when I turn 30, I’d call them crazy. If someone told me I’d become best friends with my parents when I turn 30, I’d call them crazy.

Cover picture context: That was me when I turned 30 and the feeling just wouldn't sink in.

My 20s were spent in becoming a lawyer and then deciding I don’t want to be a lawyer (so much for finally memorising the answer to ‘Why do you want to be a lawyer?’), bunking classes to watch movies (my father can not get angry at this anymore, because I inherited this from him), my first international trip, taking the leap of faith and starting up when my friends were joining the Trilegals of the world, creating a product that I loved, to closing the shutters on the same, and deciding to go back to college.?

There is your favourite TV show ending, there are massive heartbreaks, and then there is the last day at a company you built.?

My 20s were filled with a lot of ‘Oh shoot’ moments, and honestly as much as I was filled with life, goofiness and boldness, there was also anxiety, self-doubts and uncertainty.?

But would I change anything about my 20s if given a chance? Probably not.?

And just like any person above the age of 30, I will do what we do best, give unsolicited advice.

Maybe not deep lessons the ‘Warikoos’ and the ‘Monks who sell their Ferraris’ of the world give.?

This is a listicle (so 2010s, I know) of things I have learnt and thought you’d like to know and maybe relate. So wherever you are in your life – married with kids, single with a cat, broke, lost, confused, isolated, know that you’re not alone and welcome to the clueless club.

1. The older you get, the harder it is to make friends. So keep the ones you already have, close because they will shine at you in dark times and smack you in the face when you’re being an impossible brat.?
2. It is okay to be negative. The truth is with life’s oscillations, it is tough to always be a ray of ‘word which starts with f’ sunshine'. Take it from a woman who has ‘crying marathons’ and a google search history of ‘movies that make you cry’, it is always liberating to let your feelings out.?
3. It is okay to rant. This list is making me look like a cat lady, already. Nevertheless. I have a friend who I ‘vent’ to, and all he does is listen to me then and then we go out for some ice-cream. As simple as that.?It works wonders.
4. Hydrate. There is nothing that our body needs more, than water (Yes, we're just very very expensive houseplants). Choose your liquid maybe, but don’t forget to add water to it. You might run to the bathroom more often, but it’s totally worth it.?
5. Seek advice from people you admire. Different viewpoints to the same issue open up possibilities and it also doesn’t hurt to listen to the person you look upto.?
6. Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age. I say that about me, I say that about the people around me, there’s something to learn from everyone, but don’t expect older people to give out sermons and life advice like they know everything. Most times, they don’t.?
7. Let your parents grow up. They’re done raising you, let them make mistakes and let them learn, turns out they are also figuring the ‘adulting’ part, just like us.
8. Not everyone knows what the hell they’re doing. It’s okay to stumble upon things and learn on the way, no one’s punishing you for not knowing things (unless you’re a doctor, of course)
9. Idlis are better than Paranthas. There, I said it.?
10. A successful day?starts with making your bed. If all else fails, at least you nailed that. Coming back home to a neat bed is a gift you give to yourself.
11. When someone fails, practice forgiveness. There will be times when things don’t go as you plan, people will inevitably fall short (they will eat a chocolate and leave the wrapper on the table), be an adult and practice forgiveness. Trust me, I am trying, my facial expressions just don't cooperate.?
12. Always wear comfortable shoes. You never know when your ‘friend’ comes up with an idea to casually walk 5 kilometres.?
13. Write a lot of thank-you cards.
14. Ice cream/wine (whatever floats your boat) paired with a Harry Potter movie/book does wonders for those blue-coloured days.?
15. Window seats on Airplanes are annoying.?
16. FOMO is a choice. So is JOMO. Embrace both. (I learnt the full forms of these only when I hung out with the Gen-Zs of my MBA class)
17. You might be one the oldest people in a cohort with an average age of 25 but you'll be okay (True story, y’all). It will take time to adjust to the fact that some 22 year olds are much smarter than you are, but then you will also meet 45 year olds in your life who’d balance this smartness quotient.?
18. Be kind, even kinder than you have been in the past. You know the wrinkles are coming (not for me, but generally), might as well make a smiling pattern than a grumpy/frown-y one.?
19. Being an entrepreneur is the best thing that can happen to someone. You are responsible to pivot when ‘number 2’ hits the fan. You are responsible to turn your weaknesses into strengths. You are responsible to educate yourself in areas you have no idea about. You jump into the ocean and learn how to build a raft (sorry, Jack!)
20. Anything is possible. Not ‘putting the toothpaste back in the tube’ possible, but almost anything is possible if you put your mind and heart into it.?
21. ?Expensive wine is for suckers.?

Here’s most of the lessons I could remember, and I hope the 30 year olds could relate and the 20 year olds could read this without getting distracted by ‘Instagram reels or whatever the kids are watching these days’.?

Also, I am glad my mother is not on LinkedIn, otherwise you'd definitely see a comment asking me when do I plan to settle down.

My 20s gave me enough experience to last a lifetime and I hope that my 30s bring more adventure, happiness and memories than backaches and knee pains.

Signing off,

Puja Arti