When I was a child, I was always hoping that time would pass faster and I could grow up quickly. When I reached the age of 18, I was very excited, and at the same time I felt responsibility and expectations for the future. When I was 23 years old and graduated from university, I was a little anxious and worried, facing an unknown career life ahead of me. However, since the age of 25, my inner fear began to grow stronger because I started to count down the days before turning 30.
Confucius once said, “A man should be independent and be able to think for himself/herself at the age of 30.” Perhaps this philosophy has brought me some invisible pressure. I had always believed that I needed to be settled down in life, with a successful career and happy family by the age of 30, or I would fail to achieve the expectations of society.
Therefore, from 27 to 30, I was busy pursuing my goals in life: Working hard in my career to be successful with achievements and fortune; and searching continually in my relationships to find a life-long partner. Recalling those days, all I remember is the busyness and anxiety of me trying to reach these goals. However, on my 30th birthday, I suddenly stopped my pursuit, feeling extremely relaxed and at ease in my heart. For the first time, I was not counting down the days before turning 30. Instead I could perceive the next decades ahead of me, and even look forward to myself at 40 and 50 years old.
Before the age of 18, I was eager to grow up. Before the age of 30, I was worried about getting old. Since turning 30, I have begun to enjoy being mature.
When I was around younger girls before, I would envy them for being full of energy, bold and brave, meanwhile still having a promising future with more years ahead. But now when I am with ladies who are older than me, I appreciate the wisdom and experience they have earned over the years, as well as the composed and steady minset they show when hadling problems . At this moment, my desire to go back to my younger aged self i the past has faded away, but my expectations to reach a mature state of mind in the future has risen.
During our younger years, we have courage, motivation and the fighting spirit that youth brings us. However, we also lack knowledge, experience, confidence and a broad vision, so that it is easy to be impulsive and anxious. As we grow up, we learn that we may make wrong decisions along the journey. We fall down many times, but we manage to stand up again and again, gaining experience and wisdom. However, when we realize that we have finally learned to handle things in this world, become mature, manage our emotions and live a better life, we are no longer young. This is life, it's fair and you can only live once.
If we cannot hold back time, why not just live in the moment? Cherish the beauty of youth and also embrace the wisdom of maturity. Face the process of becoming older, but feel the transformation of being mature from your spirit and soul. Therefore, you will not be afraid of aging, but accept being wonderful with an older age. Time has brought us from being ignorant to being knowledgable, and age is the milestone to witness everything.
Chinese ancient wisdom teaches us, do not worry in your 10s, have no regrets in your 20s, be independent in your 30s, free from doubts in your 40s, know your fate in your 50s, accept the truth in your 60s and listen to your heart in your 70s. Each age has its own excitement in life. I am grateful to have my age recording my life moments, so I can appreciate the joys and tears over the years. Life is not necessar-ly as good as we imagined, but what we look forward to is the path ahead of us, and we are not afraid of it anymore.
New Woman Development Association of Macao was established
by 9 independent and confident new women. We encourage women to discover their own values and accept new things. We also call on women to break through the inner and traditional restraints and be proactive, so as to develop self-talent, and balance family with career.
Our Signatures:
2020 Greater Bay Area Youth New Woman Career Talk Show – New Woman TEAgather
2020 New Woman Festival – Duality
2019 Macau New Woman Contemporary Art Exhibition – “WM”
2018 Macau New Woman Contemporary Art Exhibition – “Yet to Know"