Kann man sich noch als junger Mensch bezeichnen, wenn man 30 Jahre alt ist?

In the past, a sentence starting with "You're already in your 30s" was always followed by disappointment and a moral lecture. But now, everything has changed. With the great popularity of "Sailing Through 2026", a new sense of connection has emerged. "After watching, I think 30 is still so young!" "30 is just my idealized 18th year of life."

Recent brain research has confirmed that the human brain doesn't fully mature until between 28 and 32 years old. This means that the 30th year of life is not the end of existence, but the beginning of a life where, after attaining mental maturity, one knows how to truly enjoy life.

At this stage of life, one can finally slow down and think about what one really needs. (Photo/ "Good Things")

This generation in their 30s no longer views life as an exam where one has to submit work on time. Compared to an orderly aging process, they care more about expanding the boundaries of life experiences and realizing the wishes from their 18th year. They are convinced that it's never too late to seize the idealistic life.

Are people in their 30s still considered young? The answer is yes. Age is never the only criterion to determine whether someone is young. As long as one retains curiosity, imagination, and a willingness to act, and always remains brave, the 30s are still like the sun around 8 or 9 in the morning, an age full of energy and possibilities.

No purchasing power for "face"

This generation in their 30s only focuses on "dreams"

In 2026, Pang Xue will be 30 years old. Looking back on the last three years, they were the most difficult times of her life.

At the age of 27, she experienced a complete transformation: She broke up with her boyfriend of 8 years, quit her job, and founded a startup with friends. It was a bet with no way back. In the first three months, the team changed direction three times before finally determining a business model. To stay afloat, Pang Xue signed a very demanding convertible bond deal to obtain rescue financing.

This was the time when the fear was the strongest. In the young company, Pang Xue was the oldest, and around her were all motivated young talents from the 00s generation. She was afraid every day that the startup would fail and she would have nothing left. At night, she scrolled through Facebook and saw that most of her peers already held leadership positions or were married, while she herself seemed like a drifting boat on the sea - exactly what sociologists call the "Odyssey phase": Career and relationship are not yet settled, and one is in a long transition phase of trial and error.

Confusion is inevitable. Compared to a comfortable harbor where one gets lost, we simply refuse to dock too early. (Photo/ "Song of the Ordinary People")

But after three years, order has slowly been restored.

The team has grown from 4 to over 50 employees, and Pang Xue has developed into an influential "middle-aged woman". Facing the 80% of trainees, she feels a sense of responsibility: "In the difficult economic situation, I would feel guilty if I didn't enable them to learn something."

This sense of responsibility and mental maturity is naturally also reflected in her consumption behavior. In the past, she unconsciously wore different fashionable clothes every day; now she has donated over 100 kilos of old clothes to a non - profit organization, and in her wardrobe there are only a dozen sportswear items in different colors, suitable for both business and private purposes. She has a clear idea: "A piece of clothing may seem expensive at first glance, but if you wear it often, it's extremely cost - effective compared to the cost of use."

When her inner order was restored, she began to create "security" in her life. This year, she plans to go skiing in Georgia. "When I bought the ski suit, I made a promise to myself to go to the mountains." says Pang Xue, "This is not just a piece of clothing, but an investment in my idealistic life. If I buy it, I'll also go."

Zhou Ming (pseudonym), a 34 - year - old financial expert, also follows this logic of "value review".

After the birth of his daughter, his friend group was filled with parenting anxiety, and the gatherings consisted of competing for school districts and early education courses. Zhou Ming bravely stepped out of this "circle of sacrifice". Instead of investing his entire fortune in an old and damaged apartment, he founded a "family discovery fund". Every weekend, he takes his wife and daughter to the nearby area for camping or goes with them to Aranya to watch the sunrise. For this generation of practical young people, the highest goal of financial planning is not to increase the accounting numbers, but to maximize the sense of happiness of the whole family. Creating concrete "life memories" is an investment with a 100% return promise.

Whether it's Pang Xue's re - evaluation of consumption or Zhou Ming's withdrawal from the competition, at the core, it's the 30 - year - olds' reclaiming of their own destiny. When this awakening is transferred to automobile consumption, an unexpected encounter occurs: They all overlook the mainstream coupes and SUVs and direct their gazes at a large MPV over 5 meters long - the Voyah Dreamer.

Pang Xue originally had no intention of buying an MPV. The large cars she usually rented to pick up customers were big and difficult to drive. It was only when she accidentally saw a Voyah Dreamer in the industrial park that she thought: "It looks quite luxurious." Later, at a dinner, she met the owner of the car, who was also an entrepreneur. The other person recommended the car to her: "It drives extremely well, and you can handle it all by yourself." and advised her to test - drive it.

The Voyah Dreamer standing in the industrial park unexpectedly comes into Pang's field of vision.

For Zhou Ming, who is buying his second car, his old BBA has lost value and no longer meets his business requirements. With his frequent business trips and family outings on holidays, buying a large car with comfortable space and intelligent driving assistance is a necessity for him.

But the decision to buy an MPV is often not understood by the people around him. His relatives advise Pang Xue: "What does a girl need a big car for?" His friends tease Zhou Ming: "Better buy a BMW X5, it's more prestigious." But in Pang's imagination, this car is the perfect carrier for her idealistic life. During the day, she can use it to pick up customers and make a good impression. On weekends, she can take her parents to Sam's Club for shopping, and on holidays, she can drive with her girlfriends and her cat into nature.

If you believe in yourself and the future, why not wait?

Thirty and "just": Take care of yourself first

Pang Xue was really impressed by the Voyah Dreamer after taking a test drive in a friend's car at a dinner.

At that time, she had borrowed her friend's Dreamer for business reasons. Since she was used to driving small cars, she was nervous when she saw this over 5 - meter - long giant and had concerns about the intelligent driving assistance of an MPV. But the first feeling when driving was surprisingly easy - "It really drives so well!"

The driving experience is "silky". When it encounters a slow - moving car in the middle lane, the Dreamer with activated driving assistance can easily change two lanes. "It's much more decisive than a human and always finds the most efficient route." Not only intelligent, but also the solid chassis construction is impressive: It drives smoothly on bad road surfaces, and there are no dizzying "nodding movements" when braking at traffic lights or pulling out of side streets.

Pang Xue quickly recognized the commercial value: "If customers can fall asleep comfortably in the back seat, they can feel your reliability through the vehicle, and it will naturally be much easier to do business."

On the same evening, Pang Xue searched for this car on social media. Surprisingly, there was no exaggerated advertising, and the strengths of the Dreamer were modest and pure. "Maybe this sounds a bit sentimental," she admits, "but when I sit in it, I really feel seen and cared for."

This feeling of "care" is especially valuable. As a "giver type", Pang Xue always wants to do more to get the return and positive interaction from others. But after a few years in business and after turning 30, she has realized that this is often an unrealistic hope. Nevertheless, she still thinks kindness is a beautiful character trait. Now she feels that she can "care for each other" with this Dreamer and thus better take care of other people.

During the days when she was waiting for the car, she had already imagined the future: At noon, she can relax in the car, and on weekends, she can invite her girlfriends, with whom she has been friends for ten years, on a joint trip. Since her friends got married and had children, they rarely meet. Pang Xue, who has decided not to have children, thinks it would be great if there was a big car that could take good care of her friends' children so that they could meet again.

This car is a chance for her to change her lifestyle. For people in their 30s and above, it's a sign of maturity that one can take care of oneself and also take care of parents, friends, and even the children of friends - to become an "ideal adult" who is capable of caring for others.

After the 30th year of life, one develops into a lively and independent "middle - aged woman".

After picking up the car, Zhou Ming experienced an immediate change: The car healed his daily restlessness.

Traffic jams on the highway used to be the places where he lost his energy the fastest. But when he sits in the driver's seat, he feels his youthfulness again through the flexible start and calm overtaking maneuvers.

In the past, Zhou Ming was always nervous when taking his parents, wife, and daughter to the nearby area because he constantly had to pay attention to the navigation and other drivers. But when a car is intelligent and stable enough that one doesn't have to constantly solve problems, one can devote one's energy back to life. When he looks in the rear - view mirror and sees that his mother - in - law, who gets a bit dizzy, is sleeping peacefully, and his wife and daughter are quietly talking about the scenery outside the window, this is the most relaxing moment of the week for Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming is a typical INFP, sometimes a bit depressed and always concerned about saving money to retire early. His ENTP wife often encourages him: "Whether you're happy or not, the day passes anyway. Why not lead a happy life?"

This big car is the best place to implement this philosophy. Once, when he picked up his wife from work, both were exhausted from work and didn't want to go home to do housework. They silently parked the car by the roadside, bought wine and wine glasses, and enjoyed the wine while listening to music. "At this moment, we just wanted to take a break, even if it was only ten minutes." says Zhou Ming. This little romance that one can create at any time was an experience he had never had before.

One holds the steering wheel in hand

and also has the courage to overcome mountains

Whether it's a private space for oneself or a mobile harbor for the family, the car is a witness to the progress of their lifestyle.

Zhou Ming now has more plans for the future. He thinks that when his child is a bit older, he will drive with the whole family in a big car to Xinjiang to visit the poplar forests by the Tarim Lake, and maybe even further west to the vast areas of the Tibetan Plateau.