It was a nice birthday party. Some minimalist but beautiful decorations. Lots of tasty, homemade snacks. A fancy selection of fizzy drinks. And, like the bubbly, the conversations kept flowing.
The topics were already fairly representative of our age group: weddings, family plans, travel reports, and job worries all made an appearance. But when I spotted a friend going down on one knee on a small round pillow, stretching into a lunge under our host’s instructions, that’s when I knew: Our 30s have arrived. It’s all about yoga now.
Within minutes, the entire room was testing their mobility. “Can you lock your hands behind your back? Reach your toes? What about the splits?” It must have looked like the introductory session of a gymnastics class on a cruise ship. Between some satisfied faces and many tired groans, most of us concluded we were not as flexible as we should be—and then the conversation moved on.
I know they can weigh on us, but: I like them. The big changes, and the small moments in which we realize they have happened. There’s never a clear “better” or “worse” attached to them. Not really, anyway. Not if we look closely. There’s only “different.” A new chapter with new priorities, new ups and downs, and new friends–even though the people in the room are still the same.
Today, it’s all about yoga, and tomorrow? Tomorrow is tomorrow, and we’ll discover our next adventure once we’re in it.
