What does turning 40 mean to you?

[Trek420]

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

How about "ride your age" Or twice your age...in metric....backwards....each year on your birthday.

[emily_in_nc]

Ditto to everything said here already! I had a bit of a panic when I turned 40 as well, but I'm in the best shape of my life in my 40s (I'm 45 now), and people mistake me for 35 all the time. With my increased 40s fitness, I weigh what I did on my wedding day in 1985 again. I am also in much better shape financially and career-wise than in earlier decades, get to travel and do fun things, and am doing things I never thought I would do (like hiking the grand canyon, kayaking, and mountain biking!) The 40s is a very freeing decade for women, once you get past the stigma of the age thing -- it's just a number, and it's all in what you make it.

The downside of the 40s for me: losses. I felt that I led such a charmed life in my 20s and 30s in so many ways. In my 40s I've lost my last two grandparents, my father, and my dog. It's been a tough road, and as I get older, I know I face more losses of people I love ahead.

With age really does come wisdom and perspective, though. I like the "me" I am now much better than the younger me. I am also much more accepting of my strengths, weaknesses, quirks and neuroses. I have a much easier time just being who I am and speaking my mind. I like that.

Welcome to the "40s and fabulous" club!

Emily

[7rider]

I'll be turning 40 later this coming summer. Except for the fact that I was out with a busted up knee from a mtb crash, I have to say I was in better shape at 30 than at 40 - physically, at least. Emotionally, financially.... 40 is looking better.
I can't really say that I'm looking forward to, or dreading, 40. It just is. Not much I can do about it, and as someone said....it's better than the alternative!

[Mr. Bloom]

Now, I'm a man

Turning 40 to me meant that I was one day older than 39 and halfway to 80!

[GLC1968]

I tend to look at things a little differently than most. When I turned 30, I felt that it sounded younger than 29. When you are 29, you are almost done with your 20's. At 30, you are BARELY into your 30's and you have a whole brand new decade in front of you. At the time, I was single and unemployed and yet all I could think about was all the possibilities ahead of me!

Now I'm also coming up on turning 40 (in 13 months), and I kind of feel the same way. 39 seems like it's barely hanging on to a decade that is basically over. 40 is new and exciting. Plus, I can't wait to be able to say "I'm 40" and have peole gush over how I don't look like I'm in my 40's!!

Celebrate!!

[IFjane]

Ditto to all - including Mr. Silver!

I am 53 & loving every minute of it. When I was 40, I weighed 36 lb. more than I do now, ate everything fat and/or fried & was miserable. When I was 45, I turned everything around (including getting a divorce that was long overdue), lost weight, got fit and haven't looked back. I am now in a wonderful, 6-year relationship with a terrific man & am having the time of my life.

80 might bother me, but so far none of the other decades have. 40 rocks - enjoy it!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Ditto to all - including Mr. Silver!

I am 53 & loving every minute of it. When I was 40, I weighed 36 lb. more than I do now, ate everything fat and/or fried & was miserable. When I was 45, I turned everything around (including getting a divorce that was long overdue), lost weight, got fit and haven't looked back. I am now in a wonderful, 6-year relationship with a terrific man & am having the time of my life.

80 might bother me, but so far none of the other decades have. 40 rocks - enjoy it!

Wow IFJane, we have almost identical life paths! I did the same changes at 45, and now I'm almost 53 and have never been happier...or more fit.
I feel way better in EVERY way at 52 than I did at 42....or 32....or even at 22! My new goal is to be still healthy and active at 82.

[Velobambina]

I'll be 44 in about a month. To me, it means one year closer to retirement.

[HillSlugger]

I turn 46 this year and I'm happier than I've ever been.

I turned 40 between the time that my marriage broke up and before the divorce was finalized; it was not a great period in my life However, I got to spend the day out rock climbing on a rare 40+ degree March day. It was one of the best ways I ever spent a birth day.

I was not bothered by turning 40, nor was I bothered by the fact that I'd already been going gray for a few years. However, within 6 months of turning 40 I started needing reading glasses That was finally the thing that pushed me over the edge and I immediately started coloring my hair. Heck, it was the last thing I still had control over

[IFjane]

Lisa - One thing I have found through this forum is that there are lots of us out there! I, too, hope to still be active at 82 - but maybe by then I'll need to stick to bike paths and stay off the road!

MDHillSlug - I forgot about the reading glasses! *lol* I think I needed bifocals within minutes of turning 40!

[Crankin]

Well, I have found that the "0" birthdays don't bother me, but some of the other ones do. I am 53. Thirty seems like a million years ago and I think I look a little better than I did at 40. I looked like crap at 20, but at 25 I began working out and eating right. When I was about 45-6, I started gaining weight and felt like a fat middle aged woman. I was sick of the gym and aerobics. I started cycling at 47 and got back on track. It's funny, that is probably why 45 bothered me. Most people think I look young for my age, but I have some serious wrinkles that run in my family (laugh lines) on both sides. I'd love to do Restylane, but one part of me won't spend the money and the other part says that's extremely vain. Reading glasses don't bother me though and I've been wearing them for a long time. On the other hand, it does take me longer to recover from hard riding and I definitely need long warm ups. I've had annoying age related health things that I wish I didn't have to think about. But, what I notice most is my attitude! I don't care what people think and I will speak out much more often. Little kids annoy me at times. Yes, I'm a teacher, but I am talking about little kids in public places who have parents that haven't taught them how to behave! I can picture being a grandparent now, more than being a parent of a young child. I feel pretty old at work now; a lot of the teachers are the same age as my older son (24). Though, they don't think I am old, but I definitely do not want to be out partying with them on Friday nights...
Generally, my life has been really good, except for a bad patch in my early 20s. I have a great husband and I am friends with my adult children. I'm getting to quit my job to do what I want to do this year, so I guess it's on to the next phase of life.

[emily_in_nc]

I was not bothered by turning 40, nor was I bothered by the fact that I'd already been going gray for a few years. However, within 6 months of turning 40 I started needing reading glasses That was finally the thing that pushed me over the edge and I immediately started coloring my hair. Heck, it was the last thing I still had control over

Here, here! My 40s have definitely been eased by hair color, as trivial as it may sound. It does give us control over the aging process to some degree, and it makes a big difference in how youthful I look, I think. I haven't done anything else, like botox, etc, but I'm just not ready to be a silver fox, though at some point (probably when I retire), I am going to go au naturel and cut my hair short and layered too!

I still don't need reading glasses at nearly 46, though. Lucky me! My optometrist is amazed that I can still read fine in my glasses, contacts, or without them.

Emily

[spokewench]

My early 40's were some of the best times of my life. I was fit, happy with myself, and had wonderful friends to enjoy the time with me.

Turning 40 also meant that I was at the bottom of the age group I raced in - YAHOO!

[LBTC]

Turning 40 also meant that I was at the bottom of the age group I raced in - YAHOO!

Now *that's* something to look forward to! Woohoo!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Dogmama]

When I turned 40, I celebrated with a custom bike and a cross-state, 11 day ride. Totally blew my bank account, but well worth it.