The New Status Symbol Is Not Needing To Prove Anything

I think the older you get, the less impressive certain things become. There was definitely a time when being busy looked impressive. Having loads of plans, always being invited somewhere, always saying yes, always having something going on. It made it look like your life was full. Like you were wanted, needed, important, successful, in demand.

And maybe at one point, that did feel exciting. But I think there’s a shift that happens when you get a bit older, where you stop being impressed by noise. You stop assuming a full calendar means a full life. You stop thinking someone posting everything means they’re happier, and you stop thinking being seen everywhere means someone is doing better than you.

At some point, peace becomes much more attractive than proving anything. I don’t mean you stop having goals or stop caring about doing well. I’m probably more ambitious now than I’ve ever been. But I don’t feel the same need to constantly show everything, explain everything, or convince people that I’m doing okay…that’s the bit that feels different.