At 30.

30 has always been the dreaded number.

Back in high school, our teachers were still in their mid-20’s, yet I considered them “very old”. The few unfortunate ones in their 30’s – nay even 40’s and 50’s – were the immortals. Immortals in the sense that I considered these people to be of the different breed. Aliens perhaps.

Back then, I couldn’t imagine myself at age 30. Never. Perhaps I’d be dead by then, I thought. Or perhaps I’d get frozen in time and remain 17 forever.

When i graduated from college a few years later, a thought occurred to me: I was just 9 years shy from being thirty. Just four years after leaving High-School, I was already 21. My bad. Time was way too fast for me. But the reality check was not enough. I still thought I’d get frozen in time again, and this time remain 21 forever.

Two presidents, four different jobs and numerous life-altering experiences later, here I am… pondering, thinking. Again time was way too fast for me. It’s been almost nine years since I graduated from college. And before I knew it, I was at the dreaded number. Tomorrow I’ll be 30. Unbelievable. Tomorrow I’ll be an immortal. Ancient. Antique. Alien even.

You know, a lot of things had been said already about people who never grew up. When I was 21, it looked like I was joining the exclusive ranks of these people. At age 23, the outlook didn’t change. At 25, nothing. At 27, nadda. At 28, still in denial.

Now if you think that the past two years suddenly changed me overnight, I’m sorry. I still look the same. Still act the same. Still think the same. I’m still basically what I was years ago… except perhaps for three things:

1.) That number. 30.

2.) This realization: 30 is just a number. It doesnt represent anything. Just because you’re any older doesn’t guarantee that you’re all grown up. But then again, the realization that IT is just a number, that there is more to growing up than just numbers… it gives me an idea that I’ve grown up after all. Even for a little.

3.) And this new slogan:

50 is the new 30. And 30 is the new 17.

So I’m still young…. just like EVERYBODY else