When Did I Become Unwilling to Be Uncomfortable?
In 2016, I lived for an entire week out of a slightly larger than average purse. I took a little skincare/makeup bag, an extra pair of sandals, a couple swimsuits, a couple dresses, a phone charger, and my kindle and was happy as a clam.
In 2017, I wore the same 4 outfits on repeat for a two week hiking trip.
In 2018, on a day trip, I started feeling ill, and rather than pay for a car to take me back early, I waited for the public bus and ended up throwing up in my own hands.
In 2019, I went on a girls trip where we all brought backpacks only - specifically so we could take the cheapest flights possible with no luggage issues.
In 2025, you could not pay me to do any of those things.
Somewhere in the last five years, I have become far less willing to be uncomfortable. I used to aim for the cheapest travel options even if they were the least convenient. I would limit my skincare routine so I didn’t have to check luggage even if that meant getting a wicked sunburn since I couldn’t bring enough sunscreen to cover my body (surprisingly some of the sunniest places in the world don’t even sell sunscreen). I would bring one jacket and one pair of shoes to save space in my luggage even if that meant the shoes gave me blisters from too much wear in the same spots and I was too cold/hot half the time because the jacket didn’t suit the climate.
I know this isn’t just me, as many of my friends have reported the same phenomenon. Now, we take cabs instead of public transit. We book hotels instead of hostels. We bring whole pharmacies with us just in case something happens. We book the convenient flights, not the cheapest ones. This isn’t only travel related either. I refuse to be cold anymore and will always bring an appropriate jacket for the climate even if I’m going a block away from my apartment.
It’s tough to pin down exactly when this started happening. Maybe COVID is to blame? Maybe I’m just getting old? Or maybe it’s that I have more money now and can simply afford to pay for convenience?
I hear this happens to everyone as they age. I don’t go out in a tiny dress and sky high heels in the dead of winter to go clubbing anymore either. If I want to go out in winter - I will have my parka, scarf, and boots - cute outfits by damned. But what do we call this? And when and why is it triggered?
Perhaps your 20s are when an invisible threshold is breached where your experiences can be classified by how many times they’ve happened, not if they have happened at all yet. Most things are no longer new. Up until a certain point in life, the majority of experiences are fresh. First grade, first love, first car, first degree, first trip, etc. But at some imaginary point, this flips. Now I’ve completed many grades, had a couple cars, been in multiple relationships, and traveled to certain countries more than half a dozen times already.
Even things that should be ‘new’ are not anymore. Starting a new job means the same corporate ridiculousness just with new characters. Going to a new city means the same daily routine just with different scenery. It’s not that I never experience anything completely new but it certainly does occur less often.
On the one hand, it might be a good thing. It means I know what I like and dislike. It also means I’ve learned my lesson on a few things. It’s probably good to bend over backwards to bring sunscreen places so that I don’t have to suffer severe sunburns. It’s probably a good thing I bring enough clothes or arrange to have them washed for longer trips. And it’s probably a good thing I index on comfortable shoes when I know I have a lot of walking to do. I also think I’ve improved at recognizing trade offs for short vs. longer term physical comfort. For instance, I used to hate checking a bag because it meant I had to wait longer at my destination. But now? Checking a bag means I can fit a few more jacket and shoe options that will ultimately make may trip more enjoyable.
On the other hand, I worry that avoiding discomfort runs the risk of making me complacent and dare I say, mentally rigid. I’ve clearly learned enough in life to start to say no to things but I don’t want to get carried away. I believe intentionally being uncomfortable from time to time is important. It’s important to learn new skills that I might not be immediately good at, it’s important to discuss unfamiliar ideas that might challenge my perspective, and it’s important to meet new people. All of these experiences are inherently uncomfortable but they stretch a person physically, mentally, and emotionally and they are crucial to continue developing and growing as a person. And therein lies the root of my fear - I worry that by knowing enough to avoid certain discomforts, I am already too solidified as a person.
Perhaps my being afraid of this is already enough to prevent it from occurring, but I’m aware that I’m approaching a period of my life where I’ll need to be especially cognizant of this balance. I do enjoy being able to immediately discern things I might dislike, but I’m not as clear anymore on the areas of my life where I do want to take risks. If I’m always comfortable, my personality likely will become rigid in my efforts to maintain status quo and thus maintain my comfort. If I’m always uncomfortable, life obviously does not sound very enjoyable. This balance was weighted towards discomfort for as long as I can remember, and I haven’t yet figured out what my life looks like when the scales tip towards comfort.
May ‘25 Consumption Report
I’ve developed the following rating system, it’s half Michelin inspired and half of my own making.
5/5 - go out of your way to consume this, it is incredible, we will have endless discussions if you do. I’m obsessed.
4/5 - It is good. If you pick it up, I bet you won’t be disappointed
3/5 - Take it or leave it. It didn’t offend nor impress me.
2/5 - It maybe has a couple redeemable qualities. Would not consume it knowing what I know now.
1/5 - Avoid at all costs. Go out of your way to avoid it.
Here are April’s ratings:
Books: I did not read anything besides fan fiction this month. I go through this phase roughly once every 2 years.
Lionheart - GreenTeacup (WIP) 5/5
All The Wrong Things - Lovebitca8 3/5
Proximate - In_Dreams 3/5
Isolation - bexchan 3/5
Movies -
License to Kill 4/5
Conclave 5/5
Goldeneye 4/5
Tomorrow Never Dies 3/5
Die Another Day 3/5
Dr. No 4/5
TV Shows
Apothecary Diaries S2 (in progress) 5/5
Yona of the Dawn (in progress) 4/5
The Last of Us S2 4/5
