Suddenly 50! - and it´s only my 49 Birthday

Or: That time I turned two years older in one day.

Today’s my birthday. I’m turning 49. And let me tell you—it’s not the easiest number to swallow. Not just because the big 5-0 is lurking around the corner, but because I’ve always thought of people in that age range as… well, properly old. And that image doesn’t exactly line up with how I see myself.

In my head, 50-year-olds are easy to recognize: a bit out of shape, grey-haired, and rocking practical short haircuts.And… well. If I’m being honest? I’m no longer in top form either. Without regular dye jobs at the salon, my hair would be mostly grey. And as for the haircut—it’s crept its way up to shoulder length. So, by my own definition, I am the very 50-year-old, which I have defined as old.

But inside? My age stopped sometime after I came of age. And now I’ve got to deal with that cognitive dissonance.

The cherry on top? A well-meant comment from my colleague, who cheerfully wished me all the best for my fiftieth year. Wait—fiftieth year? Does that mean I’ve already crossed over without even realizing?

Just like that, I didn’t just turn 49—I apparently woke up already living my 50th year. Yeah. That calls for a very strong drink.

Luckily, age is just a number—at least that’s what we tell ourselves while dancing to 80s hits under the warm Indian May sky, sipping homemade melon punch, cooling off in the pool, and talking about everything and nothing. No worries about the weather. No thoughts about how to get home drunk, because the driver is waiting in the yard.

And suddenly, it doesn’t matter which number you’re celebrating. What matters is that you’re celebrating. And let me tell you—India is a fabulous place to do exactly that.