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A few months ago I turned 30. In the latter half of my twenties I was intimidated by the idea of hitting that milestone, as I’d somehow gotten it into my head that it was the deadline for being an adult, being sure of myself, and to have achieved everything that I thought I should have.
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For much of my life, I had this idea that when I hit the next milestone, that would be when I would be my most fabulous and self-assured self. Turning 18. Getting my driver’s licence. Getting my first job. Moving out of home. Getting married. But each time, I felt no different. Where was this confident and put-together person I assumed I would be by now?
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Instead of focusing on the things I had, I viewed them all through the lens of ‘yes, but’. Yes I had a lovely home, but I only rented it. Yes I had travelled, but had I travelled enough? Yes I had a good job, but shouldn’t I have found my dream job by now?
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As 30 drew closer and closer each year, I would panic that time was running out. I hadn’t bought a house yet. I hadn’t had a baby yet. I hadn’t gone to Europe yet.
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The SKII short film about the concept of an ‘Expiry Date’ really spoke to me. Millions of women around the world feel age-related pressure, and it was comforting in a way to know that I wasn’t alone. But it also made me think. Where I had I gotten the idea that turning 30 was the deadline for ticking off a checklist? Why wasn’t I defining my own success, instead of allowing it to be dictated by what society expects?
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30 came and went and I’m still the same person. I haven’t done all the things I thought I should have, and that’s okay. I still think I’m doing pretty well.
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In collaboration with SKII
