People Over 30 Years Old Share Which Things They Didn’t Believe About Aging Turned Out To Be True
As much as advertising would have you believe that when you turn 30, you quit interacting with anybody other than your government-issued spouse and your hobbies narrow to leisurely jogging or preparing months in advance to do taxes, most people find that not much actually changes when they enter the new decade. Or so they think. In this thread on Twitter, people are revealing that while not all the ominous warnings they heard about aging are true, there are some of them that are, and they start early.
Here are some observations from people who are just reaching the big 3-0 and finding out what it has to offer, like the fact that even if you still feel like a teenage imposter in an adult suit, talking to an actual teenager will make you feel like your cultural literacy is a distant memory. Meanwhile, people who have been there and done that have some wisdom (and TMI) to impart.
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This is such a good thing. I totally don't give a f**k and I cannot believe now what made me uncomfortable and how I cared about every stupid s**t in youth.
Hahaha absolutely! When did I replace the washing machine was it last year or 8 years ago? The concept of time is relative!
Until now, studies have overwhelmingly shown that in old age, people look back on their 30s as being the best decade of their lives, with various studies trying to estimate the optimal year at 33, 35 and 38.
This trend might be thrown off now that the generation in their 30s, or getting there in the next few years, are millennials, many of whom would laugh at the idea of the financial stability and positive work-life balance that earlier generations cite as the foundation that allowed them to spend their 30s on what they truly enjoyed.
I find it's come full circle, and the genre I enjoy - heavy metal - is thriving with amazing new bands and sounds.
You start to feel pain in places you didn’t know you could.
There is one thing that seems to be a universal experience after making it several decades into life, and that’s being baffled that people who were in diapers when you were in high school are now old enough to drive, vote, and call the music you listened to as a teen “oldies.” And if that makes you want to drink to forget, you had better think twice, unless you want to be glued to your bed for two days.
So very true. Doesn’t help that shops have already brought in Easter eggs and hot cross buns.
Kids commiting the same mistakes we did. Telling them not to do it only "encourages" them.
Vintage is a great word until your own youth is in that category.
True for me, too, except the grumpy part. The older I get the more I cherish every day, every friend and family member who is still alive, every moment I still have with my spouse. Life has never been more difficult yet I'm happier and more grateful than ever before.
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Had an eyetest before Christmas and my eyesight had improved in one eye! The optometrist was very excited as I'm not in the age group where eyesight tends to improve.
In my case, younger people in tech stores thinking I'm an idiot is OK. No matter how hard I try, I'm still a techno-idiot. I need everything explained in simple terms. For these young people, they grew up with technology. For me at 71, technology came into my life at a much later time of my life.
I may get downvoted for this but... I work in the tech department of my store. I always love it when I get the older folks who know what they need and what they're talking about, learned a lot from them, but the thing is that's about 10% of the older folks who shop in there. I commonly get older folks who just can't keep up with the stuff that's coming out, and I frankly don't blame them.
I work in a store that sells tech. All customers who ask to speak to someone who knows anything about tech (ie they want to speak to ANY of the younger staff) before they find out I DO know about tech, even though I'm 60.
The eyesight thing is so true. Most people, even those with 20/20 vision up to that point, suddenly find they need reading glasses in their 40s. I find myself asking my kid to read labels on the backs of packets - easier than digging out my glasses.
Hearing starts to go too. It gets harder to hear someone talking to you in a loud room or on the phone without the volume all the way up. Guess I should regret standing too close to the stage listening to the band (various bands, actually). Nah. Totally worth it.
I feel totally old. My sight started to be very bad. But fortunately after 47th year. But believe me- so quick drop I am scared that next year I'll be blind and with walking stick.
I went once to a retro video game store to buy a working PlayStation 1 memory card. The salesperson probably thought that I was a total idiot who did not know the difference between PlayStation 1,2,3 and 4 and he asked plenty of questions to be sure that I really wanted a PlayStation 1 memory card. I nearly started giving him a lecture about what video gaming was in the 1990's before he was even born. :D
True...you also start to wonder when you started calling people in their 20's kids!!! I'm 49yrs old and just had this experience!!! 😂😂
My pal and I in our 50s at a bar. Young girl next to us tells her girlfriend with her,",those old men were checking us out"
At least you could finish it. You are half way dead during eating once you reach 40.
The last 7 or 8 years I have really enjoyed it getting dark in the winter. Come 6 pm "it's dark kids, bedtime!" And we all pile up early and watch Netflix or read. I hate it when it's still sunny at 8 pm.
I've been worrying about this since elementary school LOL so I'm prepared. However, doctors are getting younger and cops too. I was a little shaken when being pulled over one day, and when the cop came up to my window, I calmed down since he looked like he was 12. But he was very nice to an old lady. If only he knew.
I have to call my cell phone number on my landline phone just to locate it....only to realize it is as actually laying next to me...dear lord.
Background music on tv that you have to turn down and dialogue which you have to keep turning up. WHY? I'm not sure that's entirely my ears at fault.
same! i was always like "why are people putting on moisturizer all the time?" and now i keep a spare bottle in my desk at work
My husband loves saying " I can't even remember what I had for breakfast, now you want me to remember things from way back?"
We in our 30s shouldn't complain yet either. People in their 60s would laugh at our minor 'aging' complaints compared to their far more serious ones.
And this serious effect on health when you can't sleep one night for some reason (travel, work or smth). In youth - nah, nothing. Now - feeling like I would surely die, week of worst health issues...
Note: this post originally had 55 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
I employed someone born in 2000 last year. Also, just had a client who was born in 2000 that has a mortgage and a child (I'm a financial adviser). Made me feel proper old.
I'm 49 and the woman I'm mentoring is exactly half my age. This is a first.
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Let me add to the list "putting your hands out of your pockets when climbing a set of stairs in case you trip and fall down" 😂
That is actually how I broke my nose when I was 15, climbing up the stairs with my hands in my pockets and then I slipped....
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People, what is wrong with you? 30 something is very, very young person. I am 47 now and this could maybe apply to me or even older persons. When I was in 30s I was a baby, looking great and feeling mostly great, even though I live in quite sh**y country and my life wasn't and isn't exactly a fairytale. True problems and changes start (and only start) after 40-42, in some people even later.
I just turned 60 a few days ago -- even my son is older than 30! And all these things about growing older are pretty much true. However, Pro-tip: Live in an over-55 apartment -- all the older ladies gush that I look so young and I'm just a baby. I feel younger than I have in years!
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This is a SENSATIONAL time to be OLD! I don't have to 'find myself', I know who I am. I know a lot of things from EXPERIENCE instead of reading about someone else's. It's easy to acquire old technology and cheaper! I know history from BEING THERE! I heard the original bands who played what is now GOLDEN OLDIES. I can sleep any time, don't have to have the latest anything. As an older women, guys are hitting on me all the time. I can mess with people and they forgive me for being OLD! Use this valuable time for fun, dump the haters, you don't even have to talk to or visit family anymore. And I spend my holidays where I want. Geez, hang onto this golden time! Make up stuff . . . younger people actually believe me when I tell them I dated Eric Clapton! My trick knee? I tell kids it's a cheerleader injury -- didn't know she'd go that far when I KICKED HER! Now is the time to mess with EVERYBODY and excuse yourself with OLD AGE!
Yes, I'm surprised how much I enjoy being older. I thought the old folks were just trying not to discourage us.
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Those kiddos thinking they changed that much at 35... 51 yo here and I can tell some things to you kiddos. Nah, I don't care.
Yeah, well the 70-year olds are saying the same to you LOL
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Sitting at a bus stop on my way home from work reading this. (7:30 pm) Watching 10 "kids" taking a bus to at party, with two litres of vodka for tonight's party. Thinking "Thank God I can go home, have a cup of tea, and go to bed early.
I work in an office. Our servers were down the other day. One of my coworkers needed to send a document, I told her to fax it. She looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. Apparently she had no idea the copier she's been using for over a year was also a fax machine. God I felt old.
I remember the last time I slept on the floor. I was about 30 and when I woke up it felt like someone crept in and thoroughly beat me with bat overnight.
I am 41. I just found a 1/2 inch WHITE hair growing out of the bottom of my chin while I was putting on my makeup this morning. Officially. Old. I never thought the facial hair on women (when you get older) thing would happen to me! :(
I have a hormonal imbalance but I can't correct it due to the fact I have to take blood thinners, any hormone therapy could kill me. I battle chin whiskers, but omg recently they've been going white X(
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Thinking about dating. Men my age, though? They look like old men. How'd that happen? XD
Ha! I'm at the age where I'm only "young enough" to 70 year olds—and sometimes I'm not even young enough for *them*!
Load More Replies... Fellow pandas I just turned 36, so I feel these pains, BUT remember we're far from decrepit yet and must challenge ourselves to do young-ish things, while having the life experience to now keep our s**t together. I've done a 5k, did pretty well, and saw 60-something men & women run respectable times. I've met powerlifters, men and women, in their 50s, who teem w/ strength. You can't be an idealist at all now? Idealistic political movements like civil rights in the '60s had frontline participants who were far older and grayer than us. Oliver Sacks said he still loved learning new things when he was 81 and an acclaimed neuroscientist & author. I've seen 50-somethings socializing at dinner parties 'til 5 am. So, on occasion, have a damn Red Bull and stay at the party a little more. Do your stretches, go for a jog, push through some push ups or planks or whatever exercise. Read another great book. Help someone who needs your help. Stand up for something.
In your 30s you're only playing with being older. It's nothing.
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Resenting those 40+ for looking down upon us as young adults, as though we weren't worthy of respect. Now, teaching junior doctors and realising what a bunch of ill mannered brats they are. While once upon a time parenthood was threatening, the idea that I'm now old enough to be their father and can put them firmly back in their boxes feels somewhat empowering.
Betty White turned 98 TODAY 1/17/20. I know she could give us a great spiel on aging. *love you Betty!*
Well I’m a teenager. I’d rather listen to most old music then the newer stuff. I don’t know anything about tech items. I really do stand out from my friends. I love moisturizer. My back usually hurts from the workouts I do (if you can count that as an “old person” trait) man I guess I’m 30
Well I’m definitely a 32 year old boomer, and didn’t fit in at your age either. I never fully understood others my age. This post makes me feel seen lol I’m still not crazy about turning 32 today though. Just wanted to do/learn more by now. My generation for sure does do things a bit later than previous generations and I guess I fall into that. (But I was still the “grandma” at school. Didn’t drink until 21, didn’t party, didn’t go exciting places, liked school, enjoyed learning.) I have now discovered I am just an odd introvert that sometimes talks too much.
Load More Replies... I can't flip over a page in a book without licking my finger anymore. It used to be gross when I see other does it, but now I had to do it and really don't care how other feel.
When I was in Gr7, we did an English poem.I only remember this one line. Being Afrikaans this really got stuck in my mind. "And when I am old, something like 25 or 26..." I am 40 years old now. 25 was the best time of my life!
Eating anything fatty and realizing that your body doesn’t digest that s**t anymore, but instead, it spreads it evenly across your hips. I have to say though, the aches and pains are the worst. I never thought bending over and picking something off the floor would be such a chore.
Working out has been a godsend to me, and I only do 5 floor exercises & stairs 20 times a day 5 days a week. It helps with the aches & pains & digestion. As long as I work out, I can eat pretty much what I want. But I do get full faster now.
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Oh, y'all darling baby thirty-somethings. Babies -- y'all ain't old. Y'all are barely closing in on middle-age. Come back to me when you hit 50 and tell me how things are. (Especially you women, after you hit menopause. Then it's REALLY "WTF?????")
I love it when young people assume you know nothing about gaming cause your old. Newsflash.......my generation invented gaming culture, and I'll be playing until I die.
I am getting sick and tired of seeing ugly f*****g apeknuckle on every damned page.
My aging complaint: why do they play music so loud in restaurants? I feel like I used to enjoy conversing without having to shout.
"When am I going to sit on my balls?" "You asked for my ID? Are you joking?" "If I go to bed now, maybe I can actually get 8 hours of sleep for once." "I blinked, how the hell is it already June?" "Holy c**p, that car nearly hit me! I need to watch where I'm going." "I don't remember ever being this cold when I was a kid." "I wouldn't have believed I was this old, but then I remembered all the c**p I've lived through."
Adding: Sending the kids to school knowing that they will come home from that petri dish of a place with a runny nose and give you a cold that knocks you on your A$$ for a month, a cough that lasts 100 days, and no sick days left at work to take. Kids are better in two days of sniffles while never slowing down, you get cement in your joints and can barely breathe for month.
When I was 19, I found this really nice black 1950s overcoat for about 10 bucks in a second-hand charity shop. I still wear it, I still get compliments for it, and nowadays I even tell people how long I have been the proud owner of it, 43 years! The best buy ever, I just wish that my hands had kept up that well.
I'm so sick of this "30 is old" b******t. At 30, you are anything but old.
Had a cell phone die once during an upgrade took it in the get replaced and since I'm over 40, the worker assumed I didn't know about technology. I'm a systems engineer for a massive company.
Definitely "the young people in tech stores" thing. I let one of those employees in the computer department ramble once(I was shopping for a laptop) until he said something that was wrong and, I corrected him and explained how it really worked. His expression was priceless. Been in IT for 25 years, write code, and I'm a proud tech geek.
Trust me, by the time you're my age you'll realize 30 is still baby stage.... almost pathetic.
I'm 62 and have never been on Twitter. Over 30? Wait and see! I was in the tech industry in my 30's. Job discrimination begins at 35. Hide and watch.
I used to think that reading glasses were a daft idea, now I can not only not function without them to hand, I even have the chain around the neck (at work) so I don't put them down somewhere and lose them .
When you're 18, you're sure you'll be dead by 25 . Not from suicide or accident, from old age...
55 and already had a knee replaced. And wth happened around 45 that I put on weight
Paying very close attention to HOW I get up off the floor. I'm only 36 but I used to break horses so yeah, there's been some abuse. If I don't get up in exactly the right way, my c**p knee will pop loudly and hurt like hell for 2 or 3 days. For perspective, I was a toddler teacher at a preschool when I was in my 20's and popped up and down off the floor dozens of times in an 8 hour period and never gave it a second's thought.
How about how disgusted we were as teenagers to hear our parents talking about medical maladies all day. Now I see it as kind of a contest between me and my husband. Who's got the more painful knee, worst constipation, worst raging heartburn. I used to laugh hearing David Alan Grier's old man character shout out a random "My feet smell like garlic!" Now I realize, "OMG..that's me!!"
There's a f**k-ton of these that I can relate to to some degree and I'm not thirty yet. I feel like weird generalizations are being made or I'm just insanely unhealthy and nobody's telling me.
!!!!!pls keep the number of upvotes o this comment even!!!!! love y'all
I employed someone born in 2000 last year. Also, just had a client who was born in 2000 that has a mortgage and a child (I'm a financial adviser). Made me feel proper old.
I'm 49 and the woman I'm mentoring is exactly half my age. This is a first.
Load More Replies... Let me add to the list "putting your hands out of your pockets when climbing a set of stairs in case you trip and fall down" 😂
That is actually how I broke my nose when I was 15, climbing up the stairs with my hands in my pockets and then I slipped....
Load More Replies... People, what is wrong with you? 30 something is very, very young person. I am 47 now and this could maybe apply to me or even older persons. When I was in 30s I was a baby, looking great and feeling mostly great, even though I live in quite sh**y country and my life wasn't and isn't exactly a fairytale. True problems and changes start (and only start) after 40-42, in some people even later.
I just turned 60 a few days ago -- even my son is older than 30! And all these things about growing older are pretty much true. However, Pro-tip: Live in an over-55 apartment -- all the older ladies gush that I look so young and I'm just a baby. I feel younger than I have in years!
Load More Replies... This is a SENSATIONAL time to be OLD! I don't have to 'find myself', I know who I am. I know a lot of things from EXPERIENCE instead of reading about someone else's. It's easy to acquire old technology and cheaper! I know history from BEING THERE! I heard the original bands who played what is now GOLDEN OLDIES. I can sleep any time, don't have to have the latest anything. As an older women, guys are hitting on me all the time. I can mess with people and they forgive me for being OLD! Use this valuable time for fun, dump the haters, you don't even have to talk to or visit family anymore. And I spend my holidays where I want. Geez, hang onto this golden time! Make up stuff . . . younger people actually believe me when I tell them I dated Eric Clapton! My trick knee? I tell kids it's a cheerleader injury -- didn't know she'd go that far when I KICKED HER! Now is the time to mess with EVERYBODY and excuse yourself with OLD AGE!
Yes, I'm surprised how much I enjoy being older. I thought the old folks were just trying not to discourage us.
Load More Replies... Those kiddos thinking they changed that much at 35... 51 yo here and I can tell some things to you kiddos. Nah, I don't care.
Yeah, well the 70-year olds are saying the same to you LOL
Load More Replies... Sitting at a bus stop on my way home from work reading this. (7:30 pm) Watching 10 "kids" taking a bus to at party, with two litres of vodka for tonight's party. Thinking "Thank God I can go home, have a cup of tea, and go to bed early.
I work in an office. Our servers were down the other day. One of my coworkers needed to send a document, I told her to fax it. She looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. Apparently she had no idea the copier she's been using for over a year was also a fax machine. God I felt old.
I remember the last time I slept on the floor. I was about 30 and when I woke up it felt like someone crept in and thoroughly beat me with bat overnight.
I am 41. I just found a 1/2 inch WHITE hair growing out of the bottom of my chin while I was putting on my makeup this morning. Officially. Old. I never thought the facial hair on women (when you get older) thing would happen to me! :(
I have a hormonal imbalance but I can't correct it due to the fact I have to take blood thinners, any hormone therapy could kill me. I battle chin whiskers, but omg recently they've been going white X(
Load More Replies... Thinking about dating. Men my age, though? They look like old men. How'd that happen? XD
Ha! I'm at the age where I'm only "young enough" to 70 year olds—and sometimes I'm not even young enough for *them*!
Load More Replies... Fellow pandas I just turned 36, so I feel these pains, BUT remember we're far from decrepit yet and must challenge ourselves to do young-ish things, while having the life experience to now keep our s**t together. I've done a 5k, did pretty well, and saw 60-something men & women run respectable times. I've met powerlifters, men and women, in their 50s, who teem w/ strength. You can't be an idealist at all now? Idealistic political movements like civil rights in the '60s had frontline participants who were far older and grayer than us. Oliver Sacks said he still loved learning new things when he was 81 and an acclaimed neuroscientist & author. I've seen 50-somethings socializing at dinner parties 'til 5 am. So, on occasion, have a damn Red Bull and stay at the party a little more. Do your stretches, go for a jog, push through some push ups or planks or whatever exercise. Read another great book. Help someone who needs your help. Stand up for something.
In your 30s you're only playing with being older. It's nothing.
Load More Replies... Resenting those 40+ for looking down upon us as young adults, as though we weren't worthy of respect. Now, teaching junior doctors and realising what a bunch of ill mannered brats they are. While once upon a time parenthood was threatening, the idea that I'm now old enough to be their father and can put them firmly back in their boxes feels somewhat empowering.
Betty White turned 98 TODAY 1/17/20. I know she could give us a great spiel on aging. *love you Betty!*
Well I’m a teenager. I’d rather listen to most old music then the newer stuff. I don’t know anything about tech items. I really do stand out from my friends. I love moisturizer. My back usually hurts from the workouts I do (if you can count that as an “old person” trait) man I guess I’m 30
Well I’m definitely a 32 year old boomer, and didn’t fit in at your age either. I never fully understood others my age. This post makes me feel seen lol I’m still not crazy about turning 32 today though. Just wanted to do/learn more by now. My generation for sure does do things a bit later than previous generations and I guess I fall into that. (But I was still the “grandma” at school. Didn’t drink until 21, didn’t party, didn’t go exciting places, liked school, enjoyed learning.) I have now discovered I am just an odd introvert that sometimes talks too much.
Load More Replies... I can't flip over a page in a book without licking my finger anymore. It used to be gross when I see other does it, but now I had to do it and really don't care how other feel.
When I was in Gr7, we did an English poem.I only remember this one line. Being Afrikaans this really got stuck in my mind. "And when I am old, something like 25 or 26..." I am 40 years old now. 25 was the best time of my life!
Eating anything fatty and realizing that your body doesn’t digest that s**t anymore, but instead, it spreads it evenly across your hips. I have to say though, the aches and pains are the worst. I never thought bending over and picking something off the floor would be such a chore.
Working out has been a godsend to me, and I only do 5 floor exercises & stairs 20 times a day 5 days a week. It helps with the aches & pains & digestion. As long as I work out, I can eat pretty much what I want. But I do get full faster now.
Load More Replies... Oh, y'all darling baby thirty-somethings. Babies -- y'all ain't old. Y'all are barely closing in on middle-age. Come back to me when you hit 50 and tell me how things are. (Especially you women, after you hit menopause. Then it's REALLY "WTF?????")
I love it when young people assume you know nothing about gaming cause your old. Newsflash.......my generation invented gaming culture, and I'll be playing until I die.
I am getting sick and tired of seeing ugly f*****g apeknuckle on every damned page.
My aging complaint: why do they play music so loud in restaurants? I feel like I used to enjoy conversing without having to shout.
"When am I going to sit on my balls?" "You asked for my ID? Are you joking?" "If I go to bed now, maybe I can actually get 8 hours of sleep for once." "I blinked, how the hell is it already June?" "Holy c**p, that car nearly hit me! I need to watch where I'm going." "I don't remember ever being this cold when I was a kid." "I wouldn't have believed I was this old, but then I remembered all the c**p I've lived through."
Adding: Sending the kids to school knowing that they will come home from that petri dish of a place with a runny nose and give you a cold that knocks you on your A$$ for a month, a cough that lasts 100 days, and no sick days left at work to take. Kids are better in two days of sniffles while never slowing down, you get cement in your joints and can barely breathe for month.
When I was 19, I found this really nice black 1950s overcoat for about 10 bucks in a second-hand charity shop. I still wear it, I still get compliments for it, and nowadays I even tell people how long I have been the proud owner of it, 43 years! The best buy ever, I just wish that my hands had kept up that well.
I'm so sick of this "30 is old" b******t. At 30, you are anything but old.
Had a cell phone die once during an upgrade took it in the get replaced and since I'm over 40, the worker assumed I didn't know about technology. I'm a systems engineer for a massive company.
Definitely "the young people in tech stores" thing. I let one of those employees in the computer department ramble once(I was shopping for a laptop) until he said something that was wrong and, I corrected him and explained how it really worked. His expression was priceless. Been in IT for 25 years, write code, and I'm a proud tech geek.
Trust me, by the time you're my age you'll realize 30 is still baby stage.... almost pathetic.
I'm 62 and have never been on Twitter. Over 30? Wait and see! I was in the tech industry in my 30's. Job discrimination begins at 35. Hide and watch.
I used to think that reading glasses were a daft idea, now I can not only not function without them to hand, I even have the chain around the neck (at work) so I don't put them down somewhere and lose them .
When you're 18, you're sure you'll be dead by 25 . Not from suicide or accident, from old age...
55 and already had a knee replaced. And wth happened around 45 that I put on weight
Paying very close attention to HOW I get up off the floor. I'm only 36 but I used to break horses so yeah, there's been some abuse. If I don't get up in exactly the right way, my c**p knee will pop loudly and hurt like hell for 2 or 3 days. For perspective, I was a toddler teacher at a preschool when I was in my 20's and popped up and down off the floor dozens of times in an 8 hour period and never gave it a second's thought.
How about how disgusted we were as teenagers to hear our parents talking about medical maladies all day. Now I see it as kind of a contest between me and my husband. Who's got the more painful knee, worst constipation, worst raging heartburn. I used to laugh hearing David Alan Grier's old man character shout out a random "My feet smell like garlic!" Now I realize, "OMG..that's me!!"
There's a f**k-ton of these that I can relate to to some degree and I'm not thirty yet. I feel like weird generalizations are being made or I'm just insanely unhealthy and nobody's telling me.
!!!!!pls keep the number of upvotes o this comment even!!!!! love y'all
