So I recently turned 30.
I've heard a lot of my friends complain
endlessly about reaching the supposedly ‘ill-fated’ 30s. Turns out, it’s not so
bad.
I’ve been reminiscing, which invariably
I believe anyone who turns 30 tends to do. Looking back at my life over these 3
decades, it has been one hell of a ride. I didn’t scale the Everest or make a
truck load of money, but it’s been nothing short of exciting to say the least.
There’s been love, loss, joy, despair, pride,
regret, heart wrenching pain, and every other emotion I can possibly think
of. And there’s more to come, I’m sure.
So I came up with a list of thirty things I think
you should do before you turn thirty…or forty. Maybe fifty. Even sixt..you get the drift.
1. Wake
up early
And see the sun rise. Feel the cool air in your face, with a cup of
hot coffee in your hand.
2. Laugh
until your stomach hurts
Laugh at jokes. Crack a joke and make people laugh. Laugh so much
that tears roll down your cheeks. Laugh so hard that you literally roll on the
floor. Don’t worry about what the next person thinks. Laugh a lot. And loud.
It’s awesome.
3. Eat exquisite
food
Experiment with food. Try as many cuisines as you can get your hands
on. Eat to your heart’s content and never apologise for it. Exercise can come
after. Don’t let anybody tell you otherwise.
4. Ride
a bike
Ride a bike somewhere. Let the wind slap your face. Ride up hills. Cover
good distance. Get drenched in the drizzle as you leave everything behind.
5. Play
a sport
Be part of a team. Feel the exhilaration of winning together. And the
pain of losing together. Take responsibility. Help others train. Watch yourself
transform into a better player, a team mate and a person. Play in front of a
crowd and hear them cheer for you.
6. Say thanks
to a teacher
Especially someone from your school. Do this now, if you haven’t already.
You’d be a better person for it. Believe me, they deserve it.
7. Help
out a total stranger
Help an old woman cross the road. Help a road-side vendor push his
cart. Help a fellow passenger load their luggage in the cabin. Let an old
person go ahead of you in a queue. Hold the lift for someone. Accept their
gratitude.
8. Go on
a long drive
Drive a car. Take a road trip with friends, partner, or family. Let your hair down, put your
shades on and just drive.
9. Go on
a trek
Trek a hill, small or big. Climb up and feel your muscles burn. Sweat
it out. Stand atop and be proud of what you accomplished.
10. Sleep
under the stars
Camp out for a night. Eat and sleep in the open. Stare at the stars
and crush some mosquitoes.
11. Get sloshed
Get drunk with your friends or loved ones. Blabber without
inhibition. Express all you want. Dance away to glory. Have a hangover the next
morning and promise yourself not to do it again. Try and stick to the promise.
12. Dance
Oh dance. Like no one’s watching. In your house, at school, at the
disc, anywhere. Just dance and feel all the weight drain off your shoulders.
13. Watch
a movie in a theatre
Watch a Rajnikanth movie in a theatre in Tamilnadu on the first day if you can. Rush inside with the crowd. Experience the thrill, the noise, the whistles, and
the jubilation.
14. Get on
a plane
Travel in an airplane. Look down after you’ve taken off. Bring perspective
to life. And while you’re at it, enjoy a drink or two.
15. Live
in a hostel
Live with a bunch of roommates. Wake up late and fight for the
bathroom. Eat the bad food and complain about it. Go to the night show. Break curfew.
Visit each other’s home.
16. Make
your parents proud of you
Top your class. Play a music instrument. Graduate and take a picture
with them with your hat on. Buy something nice for them with your first salary.
Send them on a fully paid holiday.
17. Binge-watch
a good TV/Web series
Watch a good tv or web series. There's a ton these days. Watch a whole
season through the night. Sleep through the next day. Have a favourite
character.
18. Cook
a meal
Doesn’t matter if you aren’t good at it. Just make dal and rice. Hell,
just make an omelette. Cook something, its therapeutic.
19. Go on a solo trip
To a place that’s on your bucket list. Let your jaw drop looking at
the spectacle. Get perspective.
20. Fall
in love
Love someone unconditionally. Be vulnerable. Share all your secrets.
Pamper and get pampered. Make mistakes. Get your heart broken. Move on.
21. Go on
a date
Meet someone new. Have a conversation, make them smile. Learn
something about them.
22. Apologise
to someone you’ve hurt
Let go of that ego. Say sorry, it feels good. Let them know you didn’t
intend to hurt them. More importantly, forgive yourself.
23. Make
one friend whom you can call at 3 in the morning without a second thought
Earn that one loyal friend with whom you can talk about anything,
share your darkest secrets and not be judged. Defend them to your life. Get into
a fight for him or her. Get beaten up and then laugh about it.
24. Experience
snow
Go up north in India or go anywhere else. Watch the snow
fall. Grab some in your hands. Smear some on to your face. Ski if you can.
25. Host
a party
Have people over to your house. Invite 5 people or 50 people. Cook food
or order in. Make it BYOB for all you care.
26. Donate
money
And watch how it makes someone else’s life better. It doesn’t have
to be a lot. Just look at that smile on the face of the guy who collects your
old newspaper when he sees that 10 rupee note.
27. Go to
a live concert
Go watch your favourite band play live. Or any band for that matter.
Drown in the music and groove with the crowd. Sing along even if you don’t know
the lyrics. Imagine yourself playing the guitar.
28. Go for
a swim
Jump in the pool once in a while, or the ocean. Or just sit in the bath
tub. Don’t worry if you don’t know to swim. Just dive in the water and splash
around. Just stay in the water and move with it.
29. Have
a pet
Get a dog. Or a cat. Get any pet. Feed her (or him), walk her, play
with her. Let her jump at you when you get back home from work.
30. Read
a book
Read at least one book. Read many, ideally. Don’t ask me why. Just read.
May be you’ve done all of these. May be you
haven’t. Give it a shot. You won’t regret any of it.
As the cliché goes – age is just
a number.
