Thoughts on 34
The 34th year of my life had its ups and downs. But most of all, I think it was ups. I got a real job (i.e. one that can and will likely be a career for me), bought a house, and went to Hawaii (twice!). I also think it was a pretty good year of personal growth and while I still enjoy fart jokes, I think I'm finally beginning to understand this adulthood thing, at least a little. And I don't mind it as much as I thought I would, which makes me rather excited for 35. All that in mind, 34 is officially entering your mid-30's, so I'm going to list some thoughts/realizations I've had on what it's like to reach that stage of life (as an unmarried man with no kids in relatively average physical shape).
- Your body is starting to truly wear down. It's not done for by any means and I often find myself at least able to keep up with most guys ten+ years younger than me in terms of physical ability. But damn does it take a lot longer for my body to recover from physical exertion. I think overall I've had a pretty active summer, but I still find myself needing a nap just for walking up the stairs sometimes.
- Speaking of fart jokes, you better be prepared for those things to start sneaking up on you out of nowhere. Doesn't matter what you do or don't eat, the stomach suddenly thinks producing gas out of everything is its primary goal.
- Also, it's not a bad idea to make sure you have access to Imodium at all times.
- I used to make jokes about hemorrhoids. Not anymore. (Be forewarned).
- That metabolism you thought would never go away decides to go away. At 25, I could eat whatever I want and never gain a pound. I even drank beer like it might not be around tomorrow and had nothing to show for it. Now I feel my pants get tighter just looking at some beers.
- Your diet starts to matter. Do I eat as healthy as I should? Definitely not. But I am starting to make sure I get more fruits and veggies in and less sugar. And I know as time marches on it will become even more important to me.
- You start accepting your limitations. Even just a couple years ago, I was in denial that I wasn't amazing at everything or able to do nearly everything humanly possible. Granted, I also didn't do much to challenge those limits when I met them, but I'm sure even if I did, I'd find them firmly in place. But I'm beginning to be ok with it. And it's been taking more weight off my shoulders then I ever thought was there. It's ok not being the best so much as you give your best.
- You'll be meeting kids in the work force that hasn't even started kindergarten when you were done with high school. And they will see you as old. Not ancient, but old. Maybe you're the cool old dude or maybe you're the boring old man, but either way they see you as old.
- At the same time, you won't feel old (most the time). I wake up almost every day with the same feeling I had when I was 19 - that today just might be the day I change the world (or something grandiose like that). I heard once (in a movie) that you never lose that feeling. Which is good; as C.S. Lewis once said, "You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream."
- Remember always saying that you don't care what other people think? It starts being true. Of course I still care a little bit, like I won't go to the store in my pajama pants. But it's amazing what I will go to the store wearing now compared to just a few years ago. Or what I'll say. Not that I intentionally try to be rude or anything of the sort (and I'm pretty sure people that do are doing so because they care what other people think and have a need for negative attention).
- Your ability to stay up into all hours of the night starts to dwindle. And when you do pull off a late night, you'll be paying for it the next day (either by sleeping in too late or buying multiple cups of coffee). I haven't been to a bar in a long time (mainly due to not wanting to spend $8 for a drink I can make myself for less than $1, and I pour much more generously than most bartenders), but I'm pretty sure if I did go I would not be there for bar break. Unless I fell asleep in a corner somewhere and no one noticed me. Either way, my desire to be up that late has been gone for awhile now and oddly enough, I'm happier for it.
There's a few other things, but they'll take up more space and time than I've got right now (speaking of not being up all hours into the night). So wioth all that said, I've got three goals for 35.
1) Go to all the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I can.
2) Read more.
3) Make Tech Sergeant in the Air Force Reserves.
- Your body is starting to truly wear down. It's not done for by any means and I often find myself at least able to keep up with most guys ten+ years younger than me in terms of physical ability. But damn does it take a lot longer for my body to recover from physical exertion. I think overall I've had a pretty active summer, but I still find myself needing a nap just for walking up the stairs sometimes.
- Speaking of fart jokes, you better be prepared for those things to start sneaking up on you out of nowhere. Doesn't matter what you do or don't eat, the stomach suddenly thinks producing gas out of everything is its primary goal.
- Also, it's not a bad idea to make sure you have access to Imodium at all times.
- I used to make jokes about hemorrhoids. Not anymore. (Be forewarned).
- That metabolism you thought would never go away decides to go away. At 25, I could eat whatever I want and never gain a pound. I even drank beer like it might not be around tomorrow and had nothing to show for it. Now I feel my pants get tighter just looking at some beers.
- Your diet starts to matter. Do I eat as healthy as I should? Definitely not. But I am starting to make sure I get more fruits and veggies in and less sugar. And I know as time marches on it will become even more important to me.
- You start accepting your limitations. Even just a couple years ago, I was in denial that I wasn't amazing at everything or able to do nearly everything humanly possible. Granted, I also didn't do much to challenge those limits when I met them, but I'm sure even if I did, I'd find them firmly in place. But I'm beginning to be ok with it. And it's been taking more weight off my shoulders then I ever thought was there. It's ok not being the best so much as you give your best.
- You'll be meeting kids in the work force that hasn't even started kindergarten when you were done with high school. And they will see you as old. Not ancient, but old. Maybe you're the cool old dude or maybe you're the boring old man, but either way they see you as old.
- At the same time, you won't feel old (most the time). I wake up almost every day with the same feeling I had when I was 19 - that today just might be the day I change the world (or something grandiose like that). I heard once (in a movie) that you never lose that feeling. Which is good; as C.S. Lewis once said, "You are never too old to set another goal or dream a new dream."
- Remember always saying that you don't care what other people think? It starts being true. Of course I still care a little bit, like I won't go to the store in my pajama pants. But it's amazing what I will go to the store wearing now compared to just a few years ago. Or what I'll say. Not that I intentionally try to be rude or anything of the sort (and I'm pretty sure people that do are doing so because they care what other people think and have a need for negative attention).
- Your ability to stay up into all hours of the night starts to dwindle. And when you do pull off a late night, you'll be paying for it the next day (either by sleeping in too late or buying multiple cups of coffee). I haven't been to a bar in a long time (mainly due to not wanting to spend $8 for a drink I can make myself for less than $1, and I pour much more generously than most bartenders), but I'm pretty sure if I did go I would not be there for bar break. Unless I fell asleep in a corner somewhere and no one noticed me. Either way, my desire to be up that late has been gone for awhile now and oddly enough, I'm happier for it.
There's a few other things, but they'll take up more space and time than I've got right now (speaking of not being up all hours into the night). So wioth all that said, I've got three goals for 35.
1) Go to all the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu I can.
2) Read more.
3) Make Tech Sergeant in the Air Force Reserves.
posted by Paul | 10:58 PM
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