Last Week as a 33 year old

I’m feeling rather profoundly grateful. It’s probably the best week of my life lately, a mood that I’ve been feeling for maybe two or three weeks now. I am not sure when it started or how but I remember having these small pep talks with myself in the mornings, psyching myself up for the day, for all the challenges (and human challenges LOL) I shall be facing. If I were to make a DILO {Day in the Life Of} like I was marketing campaign targeting market, I will be:

Tara, 33, wakes up at the sound of alarm at 6AM but finally gets up at 6:30. She turns on her coffee maker from her app and goes to pick it up 5 minutes after. She spends the next 1 hour alternating meditating through Insight Timer and browsing LinkedIn but in a meditative state. She finishes her coffee — black —- she is after all on intermittent fasting. She goes to shower, with YouTube (Premium) in the background. She begins to move through things she need to do for the day and utter a silent prayer for what is in store for her. She chooses a strawberry scented shampoo and conditioner set — she needed the energy but makes a mental note of wanting to use the coconut flower one by tomorrow. She irons her chosen outfit for the day, a linen set promising to be the most sustainable form of clothing. She does the usual routine of her skincare, makeup, dries her hair with her favorite hair tool, the Dyson Hair Wrap. She goes to give her two dogs and her partner a big huge one minute hug before finally hailing a car via a ride sharing app. In the car, she plays a LinkedIn Learning lesson in the background and ponder on what kind of surprise that day’s traffic will be. She gets to the office in 30 minutes and is thankful the driver did not f*** up the route recommended by Waze. She makes it to her desk without making eye contact with anyone until she’s gotten her bearings and reminded herself to be nice and not snap (for no good reason, this compelling desire to snap). She goes to make herself Nespresso coffee, sits down to work on emails, alternate with email, Viber, Whatsapp and real life interruptions, actual meetings, Google Slides and the day proceeds to become a blur.

In the afternoon as the day is dwindling down and the sun sets, she remembers she has a first time pass in the newest fitness center and books herself a versa climber. It was LeBron’s workout, after all so she’s hoping it would help her lose the last few stubborn pounds she needed to get back to Size 2. Or maybe she’s never meant to go back to 2. Whatever, she thought, body positivity and all that.

It’s 6:30pm and it’s completely dark outside, she decides to pass by Marks & Spencer and cart some Cheese Twists, a reward she was giving herself after her intense workout. Maybe a glass of wine would be great too.

After her workout, she heads home and surprisingly just takes 45 minutes (still long for 6kms but she’s easy to please). She finally eats dinner of caulirice and salmon with her partner, catch up for the day, play with the dogs, take a shower, read a book, set alarm, go to sleep.

And every day is mostly like this. Most day she’s willing herself to be happy with a simple routine life. A simple routine life is key to success and capital building. Sometimes she’s not sure if life like this was boring or just right — how did our parents live back in the day anyway? Was she too expectant of excitement? She’s rather tired — but should she be somewhere exciting? Nah — rather be sleeping or resting in the corner of the couch, she thinks.

But this week was not at all like this! To be fair, a lot of it remains the same, like choosing my shampoo based on what scent I want and still wearing linen or a bodysuit but this week, the last of being 33, I went to our company’s university and took classes for two days. It was refreshing I did not spend my day as a corporate warrior, there were no battles to be fought, just lessons to be learned.

Best Week Thus Far

Last week, to be completely honest, I asked my mom if I can run away from my life in Manila for a bit and hide in NH for a bit. She was worried in the beginning but like any other great mom, she understood the need I had to pause from my life. I was about to book a flight when I realized my passport was still in the Korean embassy. So much for running away :D

But as life teaches so, this too, shall pass and it indeed passed, That moment of helplessness and disconnection did. I am seeing feeling much more positive towards my own life and things looked up quite well!

This week: I went to Globe University, I was out and about and meeting people I don’t normally work with, I attended the launch of Anastasia Beverly Hills, I met Jia Tolentino {and she signed my copy of her book!}, I went to Van Gogh Alive and had a good laugh about how, despite being relatively ok, if you snap your photo at the wrong time, you will end up with a photo in a warehouse, enjoyed setting up a friend into a blind date, and taught a class. Life had its pleasures, I served a purpose and I loved and gave and served. It had been amazing.

I’m pretty sure not all weeks will be like this but I am grateful that this week happened. I hope whomever you are reading this gets your heart filled with light and love, too.