What does turning 40 mean to you?

[suzieqtwa]

Hey Joy,
I just turned 53. Age REALLY bothers me also. I weigh the same as I did 30 years ago ,and I'm in pretty good health, and also look young for my age. I think was bothers me the most is the wrinkles ,and lines on my face (thank goodness for botox) . I'm so much better mentally than I was in my 20s ,and 30s. Age effects all people different. I can do a lot more than some of my friends in there 30s. Before the bike, I was a runner. I ran the Portland Marathon at age 51. 40 ,and 50s are good ages to be. You sound like things are good for you ,so embrace the fact that you are healthy,and strong.
Suzie

[Veronica]

Just turned 40. I am in the best shape of my life, have a terrific supportive husband and some awesome friends.

Life is good.

I get a lot of flack from my siblings each year. I am the youngest. I've taken to reminding them that they'll always be older than me and then ask them if they want to race.

I'm always somewhat melancholy around my birthday. It's lingered on this year.

It is just a number. Getting older beats the alternative.

V.

[LBTC]

The 40's are the age of POWER for women! Take all of your wisdom of those years and add it to the vitality and youth you still feel and you are a force to reckoned with!

I'm looking forward to 40....it's only 10 months and a few days away....(and I intend to have Crohn's completely under control well before then, and hope to be back to the best shape I was in 2 years ago)

Hugs and butterflies!
~T~

[mimitabby]

40? for me; long long ago and far far away.

But it can be the best time of your life. and it's just a number. You've heard from a lot of us already who have told you. I know people your age who are older than me. I'm 55. You are young, healthy and beautiful.
If finding a guy is important to you, focus more attention on it. But it's not your age.

When I was 40, I was still so focussed on my kids that my health was a disaster. You're way ahead of me. Charge forward and don't look back.

[Trek420]

40? It is to laugh 40 was 10 years back.

My 50th b'day was kind of a disaster but I plan to have a much better time on my 51st....and from here on out.

40 you're barely just getting warmed up. And what V sed, it is just a number. Getting older beats the alternative, many don't get this far. Enjoy the ride.

[snapdragen]

I loved turning 40! Now I'm looking forward to 50....well, most of the time I am. I occasionally get an OH MY GOD moment... It's just a number - you are as old as you want to be.

I have this at my desk:

How old would you be, if you did not know how old you are?

[KnottedYet]

I turn 40 in a few months. I still feel like I'm 34.

30 was a relief. I was happy to turn 30. I'm kinda feeling a bit of a crisis around 40, because I'm not done being a 30-something yet.

It's just numbers, but something doesn't sit right. I'm not where I always thought I'd be at 40. (financially, socially, professionally, etc.)

[kelownagirl]

Well 40 is looking pretty good from where I am right now. But I agree with all these girls. I am happier, healthier, and smarter now that I ever was when I was in my 20's and 30's. Life really IS better as you get older. Age really IS just a number. Most of the time, in my mind, I am only 35, and often I'm only 5.

I think the ages ending in a 6 are the hardest for me mentally though. More like the downslide to the next big _-0. 26, 36, 46.

[LBTC]

...but something doesn't sit right. I'm not where I always thought I'd be at 40.

Heck, I'm not where I thought I'd be *ever*, and it turns out I *love* it here!

Maybe the answer to help you through is some sort of ritual. Joseph Campbell's words around this talked about how rituals, which are sadly lacking these days, were a way of providing meaning and the context of our own story to the passage of time. Perhaps something that marks the significance of having lived through those 40 years, and having become who you are now, with all of your strengths, desires, passions and flaws, is just what you need to ease yourself into the right mindspace to love 40 and love yourself at 40!

If it were me, I'd begin now, thinking about all the different aspects of my life, and I'd try to integrate each of them into the ritual somehow. Kind of like the old rhyme for a bride "something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue" but with more significance for you: something bike, something healthy, etc, etc, etc...

What do you think? A possibility perhaps?

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Brandi]

Hey Joy,
I just turned 53. Age REALLY bothers me also. I weigh the same as I did 30 years ago ,and I'm in pretty good health, and also look young for my age. I think was bothers me the most is the wrinkles ,and lines on my face (thank goodness for botox) . I'm so much better mentally than I was in my 20s ,and 30s. Age effects all people different. I can do a lot more than some of my friends in there 30s. Before the bike, I was a runner. I ran the Portland Marathon at age 51. 40 ,and 50s are good ages to be. You sound like things are good for you ,so embrace the fact that you are healthy,and strong.
Suzie

Oh my gosh! You lie! You do not look 53 at all! I mean this. Look at your picture. You are so young looking. What is your secret? You look like you are maybe in your mid 30's. my husband is almost 50 and everyone says he is in he's 30's too.

[hellosunshine]

what about libido?mine has vanished!is it the age(39 and 11months)the bike or what,id rather go to bed with a book,not a terrific thing to own up to,eeek

[Meaux]

One of my bosses is turning 40 in a few months and so she decided that she'd go on a diet and start out her 40s looking as good as she wants to. I'm very proud of her. I, on the other hand, am looking a 30 in 2 1/2 years, and am SO not where I want to be. I hear that 30's are better than the 20's and the 40s are even better than that. Congrats on being 40 to all of you ladies!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

And the 50's are even better than THAT, if you keep biking!

[mtkitchn]

I can't believe I'm 41. Turning 40 didn't bother me at all because I didn't believe it was happening! I never thought I'd make it to 25, the way I used to abuse myself when I was younger, so being in my 40s is all icing on the cake!
I agree with what all the other ladies have said. I'm financially and mentally and physically in good shape and am enjoying life! It's all a number and a state of mind.

[margo49]

I was just starting to reflect on what it meant to be 40 when I got diagnosed with breast cancer.
Then when I was just starting to reflect on being 50 I got fired in a horrible way from my job that I really liked.
Then today I was looking for a new sig and found this one.
Sums it up, really