Here’s what keeps me grounded:
I’ve come to see most things in life as transitory—setbacks, accomplishments, relationships, emotions. They ebb and flow. People get busy, life happens, seasons change, families face challenges, and people grow—often in different directions. It’s simply the nature of life.
This doesn’t mean I lack deep sentimental feelings or that I don’t want things to last—I absolutely do. I experience sadness like anyone else, but I’ve learned to rise again because staying down doesn’t help. Dwelling in one place emotionally only causes you to spiral further. I’ve overthought my way into oblivion, only to arrive at the same truth: life moves forward, whether we want it to or not.
Still, transience doesn’t mean neglect. By your 30s, you likely have enough experience to know which people are worth keeping close. Perhaps you’ve lost people like them before or spent years searching for such connections. When you find them, nurture those relationships, even imperfectly. Perfection isn’t the goal—presence and effort are.
When it comes to work, I aim to show up fully, but I also listen to my body. I take breaks, go to the gym, and prioritize my health, even if it means sometimes saying no to social plans. It’s not about having the “perfect” priorities but organizing your life in a way that aligns with your values.
Romance, too, has taught me plenty. I’ve been hurt, and I’ve hurt others. I’ve faced insecurity, jealousy, despair—emotions that remind me I’m human. One mindset that has helped me is to avoid clinging. In relationships, trying to control someone often backfires, amplifying temptations rather than reducing them. Instead, I focus on being so grounded in myself that I remember this truth: I am someone worth desiring, too. But this isn’t about taking what isn’t yours—it’s about holding onto your integrity while trusting in the right connections.
In the end, life is about balance: accepting its impermanence while choosing to nurture the things that matter. Imperfection is inevitable, but so is growth. Keep going, keep grounding yourself, and remember—it’s in the ebb and flow where life finds its rhythm.