Thirty. :: The Life of the Traegorn :: September 9, 2010 at 9:46:19

Thirty.
Posted Sep 9, 2010 - 9:46:19	Tweet

At 6:40AM Central Time today I turned thirty years old. Let's repeat that, I am now, officially thirty. I am, by all measurable metrics, undeniably no longer in my twenties.

For the record, it's actually not that big a deal.

I don't feel any older really - let's face it, the adult male metabolism shifts at around 27, so I've already had to accept not being able to eat whatever I want anymore. I can't really say that I feel anymore adult -- being married and having a college degree already kind of did that whammo to me as well.

And while I'm prone to introspection at length, especially in this space, I find myself not particularly having anything significant to say today about the tens digit upticking in my ongoing count of years upon this Earth.

I really don't know why we as humans are obsessed with round numbers. So many people I know either fear (or in some cases feared) their 30th birthday, as though they would suddenly become old and aged at an instant. The whole "Second Anniversary of my 29th Birthday" seems like merely more tripe for our youth obsessed culture. For me, every year I'm here is a joy, the fact that I've managed not to get myself killed a darwinian victory. I remember being "young" (although I am far from "old") and I also remember that it kind of sucked. I've enjoyed my adult life far more than my youth, and I embrace the marching clock of mortality.

It's the whole point now isn't it.

Of course, I may not think the same way in twenty or forty years when I'm a bit further on my life's journey, but for now I'm happy with my age. I'm young enough to have most of my life ahead of me still, but old enough to know not to do stupid things. Of course I still do the stupid things sometimes, but I know they're bad ideas while I do them at least.

I think it helps that I try to live my life without regret. I don't feel like I've really missed any opportunity along the way, and if I had to do things over again, I'd make every mistake too -- as it put me where I am now. My past is exactly what I want it to be, so I don't mind it going on. I make the most of my life, and enjoy every moment of it, so I don't mind continuing to new things.

At thirty, I'm living in a new place, newly married, and starting a new chapter in my life. I have no idea how anyone could find something negative in that at all.

So Happy Birthday to me indeed.
- Traegorn