31 Questions I Still Have at 31

By  |  13 Comments

birthdays naturally evoke introspection for me. this year is no different. what is different, is that i feel as though i suddenly have less answers and more questions.

technically my 31st birthday is tomorrow. i can pretty much guarantee i shall wake up tomorrow and still not have answers to these questions. should it be otherwise, you will of course be the first to know.

also, my husband has some ‘really impressive surprises’ planned (his words) so come along with me via instagram stories! he knows i don’t really love surprises so it shall be interesting!

questions i still have at 31

here are 31 questions i still have at 31:

  1. why do we experience such intense chemistry with certain people and not others?
  2. what makes some relationships last and others fall apart?
  3. how can some people go for a run and still talk?
  4. what things will i do as a parent that will annoy my children?
  5. did ravery and i know each other in some other form of life before?
  6. how do people still think our current administration is doing good (and not completely racist, dangerous and embarrassing)?
  7. why do men still think it’s acceptable to force themselves on women?
  8. how are women still earning less than men for the same job?
  9. how come even though i realize most of my anxiety is irrational, i still feel it?
  10. where do our souls come from and where were they before?
  11. how come it’s almost impossible to eat only one chip/cracker/chocolate?
  12. how is that that 1 in 6 children in the USA don’t know where their next meal is coming from?
  13. is poverty in society inenvitable?
  14. why can it be easy to hear news of horrible things happening to humans across the globe but somehow the physical/emotional distance weakens our desire to help?
  15. why are people still smoking cigarettes?
  16. how have we not found a cure for cancer?
  17. what makes some people so vile and mean?
  18. how come some people see the positive first and others see the negative first?
  19. why is it that when technology fails, it’s a special kind of infuriating?
  20. will i ever feel like a real adult?
  21. why do i get so much more frustrated at people closest to me?
  22. what does it mean to live a good life?
  23. how will humans go extinct?
  24. why is it that women are so encouraged to wear make-up but men are not?
  25. how much time do i have left on earth?
  26. what makes a person strong? experience? hardships? DNA?
  27. what would happen if everyone gave back to their community with time and money?
  28. what existed before the universe was created?
  29. why do we use technology to distract ourselves so much from ‘real life?’
  30. what would my life look like if i didn’t deal with self-doubt?
  31. who am i at the deepest reach of my soul (stripping away the socialization, desire to please people and societal norms)?

related posts

27th: most transformative year of my life

28th: 28 things i know for sure at 28

29th: 29 things every twenty-something should know

30th: 20 important lessons learned in my 20s

what questions do you still have about life in general? 

13 Comments

  1. Mark Cameron

    January 24, 2018 at 9:37 am

    What a great post, Chelsea! There is so much wisdom in these questions. If you get the answers to any of them, please share! The rest of us would like to understand these perpetual uncertainties, too! 🙂

    • chelsea

      January 30, 2018 at 1:17 pm

      thank you for reading and for your comment, mark! i will be sure to report back, and please do the same 🙂

  2. Audrey

    January 24, 2018 at 10:51 am

    No. 3- seriously, though. HOW.

    No.1, 9, 20 are all thoughts I often have. Plus the ones about human rights and equality.

    I’ve NEVER thought about no. 24 & 31, but now I will.

    • chelsea

      January 30, 2018 at 1:18 pm

      part of me wonders if both of us will be sitting and laughing at 85 years old and think ‘i wonder when i’ll feel like an adult?” i kinda hope so!

  3. Penny McWright

    January 24, 2018 at 11:40 am

    Omg such great questions. When u get the answers please let me know. Some of the questions have had me wondering for years. I wish I had known you when I was 31!

    • chelsea

      February 6, 2018 at 1:17 am

      you got it 🙂 appears as though many of these won’t ever be solid answers but important to ponder them 🙂

  4. Lisa

    January 24, 2018 at 2:12 pm

    I plan on having the answers to all of these by the age of 32, but since I’m 31 right now, too, I’ve got nothing. 😉

    (But seriously, great things to ponder, and also some freakin’ frustrating things to think about that should certainly have answers by now. AHEM poverty equality, etc.)

    • chelsea

      February 6, 2018 at 1:18 am

      oh thaaaank goodness you are IT for these answers, lisa. thank you so much 🙂

  5. chelsea jacobs

    January 25, 2018 at 1:05 pm

    same to absolutely all of these. But in the meantime, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! May this year be your very best one yet.

    • chelsea

      February 6, 2018 at 1:19 am

      thank you chelsea 🙂

  6. Elyse @ Just Murrayed

    January 29, 2018 at 12:13 pm

    I have all of these questions and more. Why is it that as you age we have MORE questions? Seriously.

    • chelsea

      February 6, 2018 at 1:20 am

      i know. i guess our minds continue to expand and find it harder to come up with the answers. at least we aren’t alone in it!

  7. Justine

    February 14, 2018 at 12:02 pm

    I would add – how is it that life in our civilization speeds up as technology gets better when we all should learn to slow down a lot more as human beings ? So much of relationships, work and family is about being patient and letting go of the outcomes and our technology seems to go in a completely different direction.