When I was small, I love to ask people questions like what is it like to be 20, 30 or 40?
I imagined vast changes at every decade of life. As a small and innocent child with no idea of how reality works, I couldn’t wait to grow up so I can do everything adult does. Now in my thirties, I felt the same about life – clueless.
In the past, I couldn’t imagine myself enjoying reading and writing. For the past 5 years, these two activities have became my treasured companions.
I dreamed a room of comics and video games when I was a kid. I now wish to live in a books-filled home.
My taste changes with time as well. I loved fried and spicy food growing up. Now, I appreciate the freshness of ingredients and would usually forgo chilli.
I was fascinated with overclocking and overhauled the entire system to squeeze that 10MHz more. These days, I’m content with a 4 year-old Macbook with a meagre 128GB storage.
I guess priorities shifted. It’s no longer about me and what I want. Material consumption have taken a backseat.
Of course, I’m still a sucker for good design and quality wares but I’m fine with compromise now. Where I used to choose branded necessities, I’m cool with house brands now.
Where I used to only insist on new products, I’m OK now with second-hand (or pre-loved) item.
Where I used to gross out at the sight of washing toilet, I’m now changing the litter pan of my rabbit, Baby defecate no longer fazes me. Changing diapers for my baby is becoming a routine.
I’m less optimistic on what I can achieve now though. In my teenage years, I believed the world is my oyster and I can do anything I wanted. That’s not what happened.
Where I thought the dreams of chasing after my passion would lead me to places, now I’m part of the modules that form the workforce. Earning my upkeep so I can pay the bills, raise a kid and do what I enjoy during the weekend.
That’s how it is, that’s now I feel at the age of 32.