We're really all just human in the end
Is it really August? I share my musings about ageism, being alone and happy.
Ageism
Did you know I’m 26? And I’m not afraid to let other people know because to me, it’s just a simple number. Here in Singapore, after some discussion for a potential candidate, someone once pointed out, “He shouldn’t get paid that much because he’s young.”
That really shocked me.
Age doesn’t equate to success, intelligence, or maturity. I’ve met 40 year olds who still act like pubescent teenagers. The idea of being pigeonholed into a certain archetype doesn’t sit well with me because if we took away that number and valued a person based on their actual skillset, grit, and disposition, things would be drastically different. I would never automatically increase someone’s salary based on their age, only their merit, proof of expertise, and their deserving of it.
Being alone and happy
I recently discovered something about myself: I really enjoy my own company now. After all these years, it’s taken me this long to treat myself as a better friend. There was a time I couldn’t bear to be alone with my thoughts, and I booked every slot possible to hang out with friends or distract myself from myself. Now, I crave being alone and having less touch points with people. I’ve truly mastered being alone and I enjoy the time mulling in my own thoughts. There are times I sit on the roof for an hour, just thinking and reflecting. Yesterday, I lit a candle, journaled for an hour, and watched Selling Sunset—it was amazing.
We're all just human in the end
When others try to dictate my life:
I guess when you get older, do you stop giving a lesser shit about what others think?
I’ve come to an interesting conclusion to stop caring about what others think, and just be and exist. That means not putting anyone on a pedestal, but also seeing everyone on the same level, regardless of gender, background, title, color, etc. Because I’ve recognized that in the end, we’re all just human in the end. There are so many dimensions of people—someone could be a reputable venture capitalist, a doting father to three kids, and a weekend beekeeper as a passion project. I just made that up, but you get the point. None of us are invincible; we all have an expiration point and why not live it the way you want to, without succumbing to the expectations of others?
Read my most recent article on Christine Wang, Head of Asia at Lufthansa Innovation Hub, a polyglot career woman who pushes her own boundaries of curiosity.
Want to chat? Email me at emilyifang@gmail.com or find me hanging out on fangfinance.