I was saying that I’ve been 30 for almost half
a year and I would be lying if I said I was cool with it at first. But then,
something happened. The day after my birthday it was like a huge thing had been
removed from my chest. Since then, and increasing every day, I’ve been feeling
better and better about myself. This has not been an easy feat, because I am
someone with issues, trust me. I think we should all accept the fact that we
do, but in the meantime let us just be clear that issues and me are pretty much
one. But for some reason I wish I could point out, is like I am more and more
at peace with having them.
Things at the lab started working. Sure, it
meant I had to work for about 3 months nonstop, and by that I mean average 10
hour days from Monday to Monday. Yes, you read that right, all week. It was
probably the first time I was actually happy I was forced to learn to drive,
because it sure came handy.
I started going to the gym more often. Full
disclosure, I hate exercising, with a passion. But, and here is the big but, I
love what it is doing to my body. I started trying to be a bit healthier, since
there’s a history of heart disease in my family and I was getting palpitations
taking the stairs. Well, that no longer happens, and what is more, I have
become stronger physically. I am actually having moments where I look at myself
in the mirror and I feel happy, which means the voice that has been nagging me
for ages now, is slowly dwindling down.
But I think the biggest change has been on
giving less and less fucks about others. Yeah, that’s right, I just swore. While
I still care about others I am caring less about what they think. This has
brought me to several realizations, from the way I dress to the way I carry
myself to letting little and even big things just pass by.
We are talking here about me suddenly seeing
the person that has gotten on my nerves for the past 7 years and 90% of the
time not caring (the 10% is because…well, you don’t know the guy, but he gets
on everyone’s nerves) and just breezily carrying on with my life.
I am smiling more; I believe is because I am a
happier person with who I am. As some of you know, I even dyed my hair, blue at
first, is now purple, just the tips, but do I love my purple hair guys. And
this is a big thing, because the truth is until recently I would’ve never done something
like that, terrified to what my family (quite conservative on certain matters)
would say or think or whatever.
I am not finishing more books than ever. You
would think that it is a bad thing, as in, oh you are having less books that
you like. But no, actually I am reading more books that I enjoyed. I just don’t
put my time on the owns that don’t do it for me. Less time on bad (for me)
books is more time dedicated to the ones that I love, and that my friends is a
great thing. And I am actually killing it on my reading challenges, evne though
I was working on my thesis.
More recently, and the trigger to this post if
I am being honest, I got accepted to go to a conference as I mentioned on my
last post. This one I am writing on my flight back. You see, I was a bit scared
about travelling on my own. It’s been ages since I do that. Eating alone,
walking alone all the time. So I had brought with me 6 books remember? Well, I
did finish 2 and I am half way through other 2, but the thing is, I ended up
doing something I haven’t done in a while. Being alone, alone. And that is,
just with my own thoughts, not even the author’s in my head.
It all dawned me yesterday, walking alone to my
hotel room. Usually when I do this I will have an audio book or music with me,
but yesterday it just didn’t occur to me. I had the nicest walk, all alone,
with just me in my head. I was thinking about this trip. About how, sure the
first 2 days were a bit of an adjustment period, and there is the fact that I
got sick the first day (migraine due to the jet lag, I ended up crying with
only made it worse, anyway) and nobody really likes being alone when fragile.
But the rest of the time? It was a bliss. Having only my schedule, walking to
my rhythm…and it’s not like back at home I am not allowed to do this, but
because the people close to you are around, you gravitate towards them, which
is great, but I hadn’t had time to be with myself in so long I had forgotten
how much I like it.
So yesterday, as I was trolling on Queen Square
I realized that I love this thirty-year-old me. This girl, woman, whatever,
that started dancing in her room and didn’t care and actually ended up sort off
dancing to her own music while walking and not even once did she stop to think
if anyone was watching and oh my what might they think?
I no longer care if the book I am reading has a
“shocking” cover. I don’t care about wiring this piece and listening to Back It
Up by Caro Emerald (great song, go listen to it) and I can’t help but dance on
my chair. I don’t care if I am alone in a restaurant stuffing my face with
delicious food and the guy in front of me apparently can believe I will finish
my plate (oh I did, believe you me). I no longer care if people think my
dresses are too girly. Guys…I don’t care.
It would be a huge lie to say that I don’t care
AT ALL, because I do. I still like it when people like my outfits, or when I
get a compliment or a “good job”. I still care about others and about certain
level of propriety, especially in public spaces, because I do like living in a
society. But, when people don’t agree with me, don’t like what I say/think/do?
I don’t care. You should’ve seen me talking to this guy who was trying to bring
my research down. I was so proud of myself, because (unlike the first time we
met when he made me cry, thank you very much) this time, I took it all with a
smile, knowing that I am perfectly sure of what’ve done. It got to a point
where he stopped himself…and it was glorious.
So, what I am trying to say is I never thought
I would be this happy being thirty. Sure, there were some things I thought
would be done by now, like my own place (no rent) and finishing my PhD. But I
am finally ok with things not going 100% to the plan. I am happy with where I
am and with who I am. And nobody can take that away from me.
I’ve learned a lot of myself in this short
trip. Or maybe is not that I learned but that I finally had the time to look
inside and see the things that were already there. I have a little confession.
I think I should do this more often, this being on my own. We will see. Thanks
for reading.
