The 30-plus things I suddenly do
The day after my thirtieth, I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror for a long time and solemnly promised that I wouldn't act weird now. Because experience teaches (when I look around me) that this can happen. But now that I am two years further, I sometimes catch myself… acting. like an adult. But really grown-up 30-plus things, which are almost responsible and actually quite domestic in nature. What do I do?
1. Paying in advance, because it really reduces the chance of reminders and bailiffs enormously (I found out). I even run the risk of having money left over.
2. Finding grocery shopping a waste of your time and suddenly hearing yourself say week groceries. That you order them online and have them delivered somewhat offsets this behavior.
3. Checking what’s on sale. I personally find that very grown-up and financially aware.
4. Having breakfast out on Sunday. I'm not talking about the dragged-out brunch that turns into lunch, but sitting down around nine o'clock without a hangover and ordering fresh orange juice because your stomach doesn't start to clench at the thought of this sour substance.
5. Buying tickets just like that, so you have something on hand and can immediately be very thoughtful and sincere when something comes up and not have to send a typed Comic Sans card three days later.
6. Keeping track of my expenses for more than a week in a notebook, because it would be smart to save at least once. And then suddenly seeing how obnoxiously expensive that double espresso you get at the station actually is. Non-de-ju.
7. Hiring a personal trainer to lose those twenty-something kilos, because back then you thought those rolls wouldn't stick around your waist. What a utopia that was, because they hold on tight.
8. Trying to grab my mail every week (or at least once every two weeks) and then actually opening it.
9. Being very evasive when asked what my plans for Friday night are and quickly walking away halfway through the Friday afternoon drinks to sit at home in pajamas watching Netflix.
10. Keeping up with my email. Now I do that very thoroughly at work, but my personal inbox was one big mess, with 1346 unread emails, which I have been keeping up with since I cleaned it up.
11. Throwing out the trash more often instead of just continuing in a bag next to the trash can.
12. I give my plants water every week and not a lot after three weeks.
13. Even more mail-related behavior that makes me a bit fidgety: I suddenly unsubscribe from pointless mailings that always end up costing me money.
I think I might be becoming an adult. To ward off this danger, by the way, I am still not married, I have a rental house and no children. You have to keep things a bit in balance, of course.
