Into My Next Decade

This year, the birthday wishes that came along were a bit unique. “Thirty!!! Ha ha ha” said my darling brother with an amusement in his voice. “So how does it feel stepping into your thirties?” my friends quipped. Yes! Ladies and Gentlemen, I am stepping into or rather have just stepped into the fourth decade of my life.

So how does it feel? To begin with, its something that’s inevitable and something over which I have absolutely no control. Like someone once remarked, beyond a point every birthday serves as a reminder of your growing age.

No one actually points out when you turn twenty nine or thirty one!! Its this poor age in between that draws quite a lot of attention.

I have read quite a few books wIhere the female protagonists who are still single get terribly upset and sad when they turn this-dreaded age. And on television 'Friends' had a separate episode about turning thirty.

Looking back at the years that I have crossed, I realize the clichéd-but-true statement; Time just flies.

A happy childhood, wonderful amazing supporting parents, a darling sibling, good education, graduation, great friends ,a beautiful marriage, motherhood - There are so many things that I have been blessed with ….Many things which most of us take for granted... My parents could afford a very good-education for me and gave me all the support- No prejudices because I was a girl-child. My dad gave me the encouragement to explore the world and to learn something each day with every experience. I have been showered with love always by my friends...I am treated like a queen by my husband and every smile and kiss my son gives me is nothing short of heaven.

Of course life is not always rosy. There have been difficult situations personally and professionally. There have been losses - dear relatives, a close friend and my father a couple of months ago. Grief that tugs at your heart and is difficult to overcome but eventually life moves on.

There have been stupid moments as well. Times when I have no-idea-why I acted stupid or said stupid things. Sometimes when I am surrounded by people I tend to get over-excited and blurt out things with the intention of impressing. The result will be 'Better-Luck-Next-Time'.

Funny and dramatic moments have also had their share.

Its been a great ride so far.

There are some things I have thought about but never done before- They just get lost in the fast mileu of everyday responsibilities. Maybe start donating regularly to an NGO. Participate in some of the anti-smoking or health-awareness drives. Maybe I should give more importance to them.

I am still a child in many ways and have a lot more to grow. There are things in us which would get removed with growth - Grudges,Anger, Irritability, Impatience, Hatred, Self-Centredness ; Its definitely not easy to throw away everything at one shot. We are all humans after all. Growing as a person is more important than the advancement in terms of age.

Moving on, there would definitely be some physical changes. I might have to go in for more frequent facials and grab more facial creams. Thanks to Over-Intelligence I started greying at an early age and so thats one worry down.

With such thoughts looming in my head I headed out to the local park on the morning of my birthday. The weather was at its most pleasant self. As I walked along, two mynahs took off from the ground with absolute grace. The park was an amazing mix of all shades of green.

I have no idea what exactly triggered it;As I moved along in steady strides enjoying these beautiful scenes,I was filled with an amazing energy, a zest for life; There are so many things I want to do - Sing, Dance, Bake Cookies, Perhaps learn to play the guitar, learn to swim, Write a book,Try new recipes, enjoy new novels, have long conversations with loved ones, travel the world, eat hot jamuns with icecream, do some small acts of mischief, fool loved ones on April Fools Day and the list goes on.

I had told my mom one day " Oh Mom!! I am turning thirty! I feel so damn old". " Old is not determined by age.Its how you feel" she was quick to exclaim.

I have seen so many interviews of divas who manage to look dashing in their sixties and seventies and the secret they share is usually common. " I always feel and think young ". They remain happy and share happiness; spreading smiles all around.

There are little things in life that make it worth living at any point. Things as simple as a visit to the park- sitting next to my husband watching our son play;beautiful moments with my husband;Getting together with friends and talking non-stop gossip; have long deep discussions with my mother;Share a joke with my brother;Getting a pat on the back at work; Getting filled with delight with every tiny milestone achieved by my son;giving and getting gifts;Getting a comment on my blog - The list is endless.

Looking back at what I was when I just stepped into my twenties I am a much different person now. Ten years have brought numerous changes to my outllook towards life and a zillion things in it. From a teenager I have evolved to a wife and to a mother. The topics of discussions I have with friends have undergone a change in dimension. Perhaps I have become a lot more mature and a little more tolerant.

The way I have learnt so many things in the past ten years, I would continue to learn and mature.

I feel like a girl stepping for the first time into school. Life is definitely going to have some unpredictable things in store for me. Its like opening a gift without any idea of whats inside. There are going to be new responsibilities.New challenges. New opportunities. New experiences. New Problems/Crisis.

Its like waiting in the queue for a roller coaster ride - A little apprehension and some nervousness but plenty of excitement.

I have decided , instead of fretting about the twenties that is way past me now , let me buckle up and dive into the new decade in my life with a complete love for it.

I am thankful for being alive to write about being thirty. Every day, every minute, every second that I have is a gift, a lesson, an adventure - Let me just relish it and experience it and let myself flow with the current.