What being in your 30s really means – as a 32 year old.

Last Updated on: 26th May 2025, 03:23 pm

They say your 30s are when life’s supposed to be all figured out — like you should already have a house, a car, and be gearing up to start a family.

That’s what I used to believe — and honestly, so did everyone around me. But now that I’m 32, life looks nothing like what I imagined. I’m still living with my parents—no car, no house and neither a family of my own. I’m working the usual 9-to-5, trying to save up for the future while quietly questioning the choices I’ve made along the way.

Honestly, it feels like I’m only just stepping into my twenties — all over again. And the cherry on top? I’ve lost friends and loved ones who I truly believed would be around for the long haul. One by one, the people and things I thought were constants have slowly started to drift away.

All of this started to hit me during my birthday last week — a day that was supposed to be fun. But honestly, ever since I turned 30, something’s felt… different. It’s like there’s been a quiet shift, and I’ve started to feel a little disconnected — from my family, my friends, everything, really. I was there, physically — smiling, chatting — but emotionally and mentally? I felt distant. I felt alone.

It feels like what I’ve achieved in my twenties has led me to nothing.

But looking back, I realized that a lot of me had changed. I was no longer the people-pleaser who tolerated bullshit just to keep the peace. I was no longer the girl who put rose-colored glasses on everything; I am now a woman who sees it for what it is.

And now I realize that achievements don’t have to be loud. Achievement is when you stand up for yourself. It’s an achievement when you acknowledge the vulnerable parts of yourself, but still choose to fight despite all the insecurities and doubts inside your head.

I know I still have a long way to go, but I’ve come a long way. I remember being trapped in a toxic office environment during my early 20s, and now I’m finally free and making a career out of my passion. I’ve lost some friends and loved ones, but I decided to focus on those who stayed. I’ve traveled to many places, and finally traveled out of the country this year.

And most importantly, I’m still alive, healthy, and kicking.

Your 30s aren’t just about ticking off boxes like buying a house, getting rich, or starting a family. It’s also about the quiet heartbreaks — losing friends and loved ones, battling loneliness, questioning your worth, and somehow still finding the strength to start over.

Being in your 30s means accepting your flaws and your failed plans, because that’s the only way to find peace within yourself.

And being in your 30s is not the finish line—it may be just the beginning, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

So here’s to all the 30-somethings out there who feel lost and uncertain like me. This too shall pass, and as long as we are living, we still have a chance.