I never thought I’d turn 30 during a state-mandated lockdown in the midst of a global pandemic. My 29th year coincided with 2020, which will go down in history as one of the worst years of the past several generations. In the same vein, my Saturn-return year hasn’t been a walk in the park, with plenty of challenges and setbacks happening in parallel with all the craziness in the world.
But after thinking about my personal triumphs this past year and spending a wonderful evening enjoying a surprise delivery consisting of an omakase sushi dinner and fancy birthday cake with my friends in a Zoom backdrop, I have to say I’m feeling very happy, loved, and thankful to be alive and well. My thirtieth year is the start of a new decade and some would say a new chapter in life, so I wanted to take time to organize some of my thoughts into writing to share with y’all.
20s, Fare Thee Well
When I look back at my 20s, it’s crazy to see the amount of change that happened in such a small period of time. During my 20th birthday, I was still studying for finals in college. By my 24th birthday, I’d been living in San Francisco for a year and was enjoying all the city had to offer. Over the past decade, I’ve experienced enough travel, restaurants, fun activities, and music festivals to fit into several lifetimes. I can look back at my 20s and say with confidence that I lived those years well and to the best of my ability.
Hopes for My 30s
Several friends have been asking me about my hopes and aspirations for my 30s. I’ve been sharing some of my ideas but wanted to share a more unified vision here. When all is said and done, I’d like to look back at my 30s and say that I deliberately fostered a life filled with more contentment, openness, and opportunities to make things better within my sphere of influence.
Aspiring for more contentment in my life means rejecting the ethos that more is always better. In our achievement-driven society, it’s always on to the next thing, whether that’s with careers, life stages, or material goods. While I’m not planning to become a Diogenesian hermit, I do want to cultivate a mindset that is more grateful and ready to savor what I have in the here and now. Contentment doesn’t mean stagnation – in fact, if done right, I believe it can actually encourage an openness to new things. When we’re not worried about keeping up with the Joneses or hitting the next societal milestone, we tend to be more open to the opportunities and learnings right in front of us.
That leads me to the second hope for my 30s . I want to continue to be open – open to learning, experiences, and opportunities. My 20s involved doing a bit of everything and seeing what stuck. I’m hoping that in my 30s, I’ll continue to become more deliberate with my time, focusing on my passions while still remaining open to the possibility of the new. Studies have found that humans tend to become less open to experiences as they age; musical tastes for example peak in the mid-20s and are largely set by age 30. Of course, I know this isn’t the case for everyone, and I’m determined to fight the urge to stick to the familiar, whether that’s in music or any other aspect of life.
And finally, the third aspiration for my 30s is to make things better within my sphere of influence. My early 20s were filled with existential questions about the meaning of life and how to make an impact in the world. I’ve come to realize that these questions are beside the point. I firmly believe that a good life is one that is actively spent improving everything within my own sphere. Forget saving the world – if I take small actions to volunteer at a local shelter, pick up trash in the neighborhood, or help improve the lives of the people I know, and I do those things consistently, then my actions will add up to something meaningful.
Closing Thoughts
From my 20s, I’ve found that my personal strengths include fostering an open, judgement-free environment where people feel comfortable being themselves; finding value in things that are often overlooked; and being consistent to my causes and passions. I’m hoping that in the next decade, I can better utilize these strengths to leave my sphere a better place than I found it.
As always, I’m grateful for the privilege and opportunities that I’ve been blessed with. I’m determined to continue living life to the fullest, in the next decade and beyond. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in my journey so far. Looking forward to 30, and to better times ahead!
Glen, I used to think very highly about your writing having read some of these posts I have not felt so this time. As you mention people’s abilities plateau typically in their mid twenties. Like you I love San Francisco but the difference is you get to live there and I don’t. I used to catch a little taste of your good life via the posts you share on Facebook. You aged and I’m way ahead of you. As much as I used to think I assimilate the younger generation I’m getting caught up by my age. It is great to live our lives to the fullest. My suggestion to you is read Ecclesiastes especially chapter 12 and I pray you would catch the meaning of a deeper and more eternally focused view of a fuller life.
James – so nice to hear from you, and appreciate your comment and checking in! I feel some parts of my post may have been misinterpreted, and I’d like to clarify some points here.
When I mentioned living life to the fullest, I didn’t mean it in a hedonistic way where I just enjoy whatever the world has to offer. What I’d meant by living life to the fullest is that I want to live life well – whether that’s continuing to learn, serving communities like the church or the homeless, and moving away from a more-is-better mindset.
Another point of clarification – abilities do not plateau in the mid-20s, but openness may plateau (although that’s not the case for everyone). There are many skills and abilities that take a lifetime to develop and master.
And thanks for your suggestion. Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books and I’m well aware of the message. I believe that living life and doing kingdom work in the here and now is not mutually exclusive from a more eternally focused view of a fuller life. That aligns with my third hope of improving things within my current place in society and in location (sphere).
Would love to chat more if you had other thoughts – I’m always a FB message or email away. Cheers!