Almost 30: When Dreams Have to Wait

Almost 30 has taught me that many of my dreams and expectations haven’t turned out the way I imagined they would back when I was in school. Many of those dreams have been put on hold, or when I’m feeling pessimistic, the words that come to mind are “dreams that are out of reach.”

Almost 30, I still have dreams, but they’re no longer as big as they were when I was a teenager or in my early twenties. “Dreaming big” feels a little too optimistic at this age (especially living in a country like this, hehe). Maybe the more appropriate phrase now is “dreaming realistically.”

Back when I was a teenager, my dream was simple: to have a proper job, earn more than five million rupiah a month before turning 25, take a trip whenever I felt burned out, and buy whatever I wanted. But reality hit me hard. I live in a small regency on the outskirts of East Java, with a salary that hasn’t quite lived up to those dreams (though it’s enough, really).

Still, that’s just how life goes.

Want to take a vacation after feeling exhausted? Save up first. Want to buy something a little pricey? Save up first. (And of course, one round of saving is rarely enough.)

I guess that’s the thing about the dreams and expectations we have as teenagers they’re often much bigger than reality.

If you asked me what my dream is now, I’d say it’s to work a regular 8 to 5 job, Monday through Friday, with a decent salary. Then, one day, I’d love to open a small coffee shop with a little bakery inside.

So, is it still okay for someone who’s almost 30 to have dreams that, at least to me, don’t seem all that unrealistic?

Hehe.