32 Things I Learned Before Turning 32
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January 14, 2026 |
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I turn 32 today. I was born on Jan 14th, தை 1. Since the English and Tamil calendars don't always match, half my wishes come on Jan 14th and the other half on தை 1. No complaints there. 😄
Even at 32, most of me still feels 21, stuck in college, figuring life out. I thought I would share some lessons I have learned along the way, from my own life and from observing others.
32 Things I Learned Before Turning 32
Lessons from my experience and from people I have observed.
1. As we grow older, time seems to move faster. Each year passes more quickly than the last.
2. Getting closer to 30, reshapes how we see life and what we value. Even things as small as food choices begin to change.
3. I am content being single and I enjoy my own company. Being alone isn't the same as being lonely. Most of the time, I am comfortable watching a movie or eating by myself. Lately though, I have started feeling a mild sense of loneliness and occasional boredom.
4. I don't fully understand or relate to many modern relationship labels. I know that these dynamics have always existed and only the names are new now. But still, I am content being an old-school hopeless romantic, even if it means getting hurt sometimes.
5. While Gen Z and Gen Alpha are often criticised, they genuinely impress me. I see strengths and weaknesses in every generation, and I appreciate the practicality and clarity this younger generation brings.
6. Learning, unlearning and relearning are a lifelong process.
7. Hobbies matter, especially those outside the digital world. Most of us slowly leave them behind as we grow older.
8. Knowing when to say 'no' matters. So does choosing which battles are worth fighting.
9. Over time, I have realised that discipline is the ultimate freedom.
10. It's easy to be angry and destructive. Being calm, peaceful and constructive takes time and effort.
11. I don't believe anyone is without beauty. Everyone carries their own kind of beauty. When we love someone, their beauty only multiplies. It isn't just about appearance. But about character, kindness and how they treat those with less power. Beauty truly lies in the eyes of the beholder.
12. Love can happen at first sight, or it can grow slowly over time. However it comes, love always finds a way.
13. Finding the right life partner is important, but not easy. When you have one, show them how much they mean to you and make them feel it at every chance you get.
14. Communication matters in every relationship, personal or professional. It's not about how skilled we are at talking. It's about being clear and honest. In our increasingly digital lives, real, honest human conversation feels even more important.
15. When ending any relationship: romantic, personal or professional - offering closure to the other person is important. They deserve that.
16. Sometimes closure never comes. And that, in itself, is a form of closure. Silence or lack of response reflects their intent and the respect they have for the bond.
17. I think we should normalise leaving toxic relationships, even after marriage. Divorce shouldn't be seen as a failure. Children often grow better when parents separate rather than stay in unhappy homes.
18. Families are very important. We are born into a family, but not all have a healthy one. Still, we can choose to build a better family of our own...through friends and a life partner. This becomes especially important and meaningful after 30. Family isn't just blood, it's the people we choose to hold close.
19. Good friends matter even more after 30, but genuine friendship can become harder to find as we age. Not everyone we see as a friend...is really a friend. So it's important to be thoughtful about who we call friends. Friends at work are colleagues and rarely true friends.
20. At work, sometimes the person we thought was against us, ends up helping when it matters most. While the one we trusted most, may let us down. The same can happen in personal life.
21. Three kinds of people often reach the greatest success: those who can speak well, those who can perform well and those who can do both. The third group usually becomes leaders.
22. Jealousy, ego and hatred can damage relationships at work and at home. Setting clear boundaries is important and helps protect both.
23. We aren't born equal. Some start with wealth or privilege, others without. A poor person can become rich, but caste exists, however rich and successful one can become. For many, oppression is a battle to be fought their entire life.
24. I believe everyone is talented in their own way. The real division isn't talent. It's an opportunity. Some get it, some don't. And privilege plays a big role in that.
25. We often judge what we give to others by its quality and feel satisfied even if the quantity is small. But when we receive from others, we tend to judge by size. It should be the other way around: when we give, we should notice the quantity. When we receive, we must appreciate the intention.
26. When someone is good, appreciate them for it and give them full credit, not their upbringing or family. Likewise, if someone is bad, judge only them, not their family or social background.
27. Don't believe when people say money doesn't bring happiness. It's partly wrong. Money will definitely make the needy happy, but it rarely brings happiness to the rich. That's the dual nature of money.
28. People may call us a failure, even loved ones. True failure happens only when we believe it. Sometimes, it's better to accept our failures, learn from them and move forward.
29. Try, and if we fail, it's okay. But never fail to try.
30. Hope can be a weapon. Sometimes it drives us forward, sometimes it can break us. Be mindful before getting hopeful.
31. A person's political beliefs and personal character sometimes intersect, and sometimes they don't.
32. It's not cool to take up habits like alcohol or smoking. Many believe getting high fuels creativity. But I have been a teetotaller all my life and have seen people stay consistently creative without it. There are many ways to get a "high" from healthy habits.
33. Life is uncertain. Even the healthiest can face death at any moment. Still, that's no reason to stray from good habits. Following them matters even more knowing this reality.
34. Smoking and drinking are bad habits, but having a bad habit doesn't make someone a bad person. A habit and a person are different. Many pick up habits not by choice but by circumstances. So it's important to be empathetic, not judgmental.
35. Happiness is nice but Peace is more important.
36. I said 32 lessons, but here we are at 36th. That's life: our plans shift and paths change. What matters is to accept, adapt, learn and keep moving forward. Even with everything I have shared, some beliefs may evolve over time and some will remain.
37. I am vulnerable. I choose to believe in love, truth, people, society and constitutional democracy. I know I can get hurt because of my beliefs. Some call me optimistic, some call me a fool. I am ok being both.
Truth, Peace & Love,
KPK.
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