Having turned 32 recently, I suddenly feel like time is flashing by. My 30th birthday celebrations don't feel as though they were already two years ago and I nearly dropped my cuppa when I realised the other month that I started secondary school 20 years ago this year.
I am not the first person to question how quickly time passes and I definitely won't be the last. Life for everybody is just one big repeat of each and everybody else's; starting with the carelessness and arrogance of youth and ending with us pulling out a surprise grey hair and trying to stay awake passed 9.30pm. We all get a little bit more cynical as we grow and experience heartbreak and loss, we all get a little bit more laid back as we realise the things that truly are important and the things that aren't. We also care less about what people think of us.
When I was getting close to turning 30 I did actually get a little upset about it. I'm not quite sure why exactly but I think I just felt like my twenties had gone by so quickly and I felt overwhelmed that my thirties were already upon me and while I know I will start getting nervous once I go into my mid thirties and towards forty - or maybe I won't, many people have said to me they embraced turning forty even though they didn't want to turn thirty - I know I don't want to be twenty again. Two years into my thirties I am really enjoying the person I am becoming and the new things I am into. I always thought I would really miss my teens and twenties but, while there are aspects of my youth that I miss, I definitely wouldn't be that age again if I had the choice (though I would have the plump skin and slimmer waist). I am whole heartedly embracing this new thirty something person I am becoming.
Yes, there are some aspects of my new loves that make me seem ancient; I enjoy going out for dinner rather than going to a club or even a lively bar because I would much rather sit and eat a really nice meal and TALK rather than down shots and shout over loud music at my friends. I couldn't give two hoots about the music that is playing on Kiss 100 these days, I used to like keeping up with all genres of modern music so I didn't feel 'out of touch' but nowadays I stick to Radio X and enjoy listening to the music I really like. I prefer green tea to my old choice of builders tea with two and I try not to have caffeine in the afternoon because it keeps me up at night sometimes (now that DOES make me sound old) I would much rather share a bottle of wine with my hubby and not have a sore head in the morning and waste the day than binge drink until 4am and spend the day on the sofa with a duvet eating pizza (not that you can do that with a toddler anyway!) I like looking after myself by eating and drinking better, taking in some exercise (Albeit begrudgingly, deep down I am still that 14 year old girl who hates P.E. with a passion) and cooking healthy home made meals.
While some - or most - of those things would make my 17 year old self cringe, another thing that comes with getting older is caring less. I enjoy being myself more than I ever have done before. I care less about what people think about me or what I wear or what I enjoy or do with my life. I don't waste my time on toxic friendships or make an effort for people who clearly can't be bothered to do the same for me. I now have a happy life and while I have fewer friends, they are honest and decent friends. I now do more things that are of interest to me and my family. I enjoy being a mum and taking my daughter out to places that interest her and doing things that she loves.
So yeah I am getting older, before I know it I will be 36, looking back on this article and wondering where the time between being 32 and 36 went. I am getting older but it is OK because I am so much happier. Being young for me meant being awkward, painfully insecure and unsure of my opinions or self worth, being older means being content and you definitely can't top that.
Nicki's Lifestyle Blog - http://www.nickikinickie.co.uk