I read this article on the Guardian website a few days ago which profiled some people’s responses to the question “How old do you feel?”, and thought I’d write my own response.
My real age is 34 and going on 35 this November; I’m not squirmish about letting people know my age. Unlike some women, to me it’s no big deal. I don’t see any point in denying one’s real age. I’ve been quite lucky in that many people have commented I look younger than my actual age – I put that down to exercise, a mostly healthy diet (sans the occasional ice cream and pastries) and lifestyle, and good genes perhaps?
Most of the time I feel my actual age. I feel it when I look in the mirror and see the fine lines on my dehydrated skin that is no longer plump and baby smooth. There are crow’s feet under the panda eyes (concealers now become your best friend). I feel my age when I get my period – another egg down the uterine drain that marks the ticking of the biological clock and one less chance at being a mother. I feel my age when I log onto to Facebook and see the avalanche of baby pictures in my newsfeed. I feel my age when I read about young celebrities in the papers and realise I’m 10+ years older than them.
More recently, I felt my age when I decided to spend more on a direct flight to Istanbul rather than opt for cheaper flights that would require layovers of a few hours. The 30-something body just doesn’t want to deal with such discomfort anymore for that slight difference in cost! The 30-something body can also no longer do late night-outs followed by early morning alarms to get you out of bed for work.
Sometimes, though, I feel I’m around 26 or 27 because of my single status and because the people I hang around with in Hong Kong are mostly single expats too. Typical lifestyle of a single, working expat: work, hang out with friends after work, engage in hobbies on weekends, go for a holiday once in awhile, go back to home country for major holidays like Chinese New Year and Christmas, go back to adopted city for work. Repeat cycle. The freedom of such a lifestyle, typically led by 20-somethings – has been left behind by my friends who are married with kids.
I’m not sure how I’ll feel in five years when I hit 40. Will I feel different in having reached the big 4-0? Are you supposed to feel different? I don’t know.
