Sometimes, lately, when I look in the mirror...

I can see the years, the tears, the trials, the survival.

I turned 30 in March.

Cue the collective groans

I know, I KNOW, I am not old. I'm not saying I am. In fact, I do not believe that I am old at all. Do I feel like I am in the thick of it now? Yes, kind of.

It was just a little jarring, a few weeks ago, looking up at myself briefly and pausing at the sight. I could just see the slightest changes, the tiniest clues that I am no longer “young”, at least certainly not by the standards of today's youth running wild on TikTok and the like.

I will point out that it is incredibly possible that what I actually saw that day is tiredness. This wasn't a one-time occurrence though. It has happened once or twice more since.

Am I getting older or am I just exhausted?

I've been working from home since 2020. The prized, highly coveted fully remote desk job! My own fridge and bathroom only steps away. I can put on whatever music I want, or binge any show on Netflix I feel like, as I tackle my task list each day.

My hot take? Ultimately, it has had more of a negative impact on my health physically and mentally. But who could pass up job security like this in this economy?