My 266th entry would be my last entry as a 29 year old.
Call me weird but I’ve sort of been waiting for this day to come. It’s my last day of being in my 20s; yes…it’s the last day of me being 29!! Over the past few years, I’ve told people that I was actually looking forward to starting a new decade, that the NUMBER wasn’t something I was bothered about. In fact, even as I celebrated my birthday last year, I was still excited!! I was already planning my part for THIS year!
Call me weird but I’ve sort of been waiting for this day to come. It’s my last day of being in my 20s; yes…it’s the last day of me being 29!! Over the past few years, I’ve told people that I was actually looking forward to starting a new decade, that the NUMBER wasn’t something I was bothered about. In fact, even as I celebrated my birthday last year, I was still excited!! I was already planning my part for THIS year!
But as the months passed and 2014 begun, somehow the
excitement started to wane and, dread, fear, nervousness, call it whatever you
want, started creeping in. Soon, I wasn’t ready to embrace the impending new
decade; and I even gave my new age a new name: 29+1.
I also began to feel left behind as every time I browsed
through FB, there was always news of a friend’s engagement/wedding, a baby’s
arrival, someone’s new job etc. I wondered if, as everyone moved on, was I
being left behind? Are my feet cemented in the ground? As these thoughts ran
through my mind, I started to look back at the past decade, and I realized that
as I was so busy comparing my life to others, I missed, or rather, was blinded
to all that I have done, achieved and gone through. My own insecurities and
doubts clouded my experiences.
And so, as I sit here on the last day of being 29, on the
eve of my birthday, here are some moments (cos I’m sure there will be a few
that I missed) that I believe are the highlights of the past decade: (in random
order)
- 21 – I reached the unreachable and obtained my key to freedom!! I had 3 small parties, 3 cakes and it was the first time I received a bouquet.
- Went from high school student to a graduate!! I got my degree – in LAW!! Not in accounts or business as earlier thought
- I got my 1st job! And surprisingly, I’m still in my first job!
- And because of my job, I’ve managed to travel quite a bit. Twice to India; twice to Europe (Germany); to the Philippines; and also Bintulu, Sarawak. Not forgetting that outside work, I went to Singapore twice after more than 10 years!!
- I’ve met powerful people i.e. women in my course of work – the late Irene Fernandez, Ambiga Sreenivasan, Marina Mahathir, Maria Chin.
- I also voted for the 1st time! I missed the last election in 2008, so 2013 was my first time exercising my right to vote.
- I got my own car – and it’s paid off. All before I leave my 20s!! Also helped pay off my parents’ car.
- Apart from personal achievements and growth, I’d like to think that in some way, I helped/contributed to my sister’s growth. She’s graduated and is now a working girl of two years!
- As I leave my 20s and begin the next decade, I bought my parents’ house. And so begins a whole new chapter.
- Last but not the least, the family is still together. Despite the past and on-going struggles, we are happy and together. And that’s what’s important!
As I sign off my last entry before I step into a new decade, here’s to hoping and praying
for a better/improved decade ahead!
