What does turning 40 mean to you?

[mimitabby]

Pffft. I've had reading glasses since my mid-30's,

me too! but i can read a menu in a restaurant without them. Being able to color my hair has helped a little, but I'm lazy and don't color it often enough.

[snapdragen]

me too! but i can read a menu in a restaurant without them. Being able to color my hair has helped a little, but I'm lazy and don't color it often enough.

I can't read anything without 'em! My mother has better eyes than me, and she's 79!

I'm looking a little grey around the temples these days myself. The box of magic is in the bathroom; I'm too lazy to do it right now.

[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.

[tygab]

I'm enjoying all these answers, and I too felt much better about the "0" birthday - a new decade with all kinds of hopes and such, and of course the age group bump for racing works too (now that I am going to be racing). Thanks for all the perspectives.

[Deborajen]

I'm about to turn 45 and I remember dreading the big four-oh. But it turned out to be no big deal. Forties are a great age, like a lot of the above posts describe. Awhile back, somebody posted a quote from Andy Rooney. It's worth a re-read:

Andy Rooney says:

As I grow in age, I value women who are over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, "What are you thinking?" She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it's usually something more interesting.

A woman over 40 knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of 40 give a hoot what you might think about her or what she's doing.

Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. A woman over 40 has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends.

A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn't trust the guy with other women. Women over 40 couldn't care less if you're attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won't betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. They always know.

A woman over 40 looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one! You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of 40+, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free", here's an update for you. Now 80% of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.



Deb

[hellosunshine]

ive 2 months to go and looking forward to it!39 is a bit bland,a bit not-quite-there like coming second.

im a bit angst that my libido has faded into insignificance,whether this is an age thing/the result of the bike/or simple switch off as theres no man in me life i duno.vibrators seem to be topic of conversation at the moment,but worryingly im still programmed to go to bed with a book!

[RAIDER MOM]

I love 40! My 30's really stunk. I was finally brave enough to get out of an abusive marriage, which turned out to be an awful divorce. Then two years later, How I did it I will never know, but I found my self in another abusive relation ship, (thank god I didnt marry the creep!) we do have a child together
and he was the best thing to happen to me in my 30's. But even that split up wasnt easy either. Then I had cancer. I felt like giving up several times but I have three of the greatest boys a mom could ever have who kept me going. Needless to say I stayed single for 4 years, I decided to give up men. But on my 40th birthday I ran into prince charming, my Dr. gave me a clean bill of health, and I joined my first spin class. Now at 41 I am happy and healthy, and I am still at the top of the hill and the world. Plus people say I look much younger. They are usually in shock when I tell them I have a 21 year old son.
And I am going to be a grandma!!! My youngest is going to be a 6 year old uncle. My middle son is 18.

[mtbdarby]

Raidar Mom - wow! What a great attitude you have with going through all you did. Congrats to you!

I'm in the turning 40 club as well - in August. I'm looking forward to it actually. It feels like a big milestone to me, almost like a rite of passage. I do feel more like a woman - what ever that means. To me, I guess it's more of a mindset and I have you ladies to thank for some of that. Biking also plays a part of that. Plus just some soul searching and working on my inner self. Now I'm adding my physical self as well. I look forward to it!

[roadie gal]

I'll be 48 in 3 weeks. Turning 40 was wonderfully freeing for me. I was officially "middle aged" that meant I didn't have to compete with the 20-somethings. I didn't have to prove anything. I could be comfortable in myself and where I was. I LOVE it!

Sure I have some wrinkles and I'm seriously going gray, but who cares? My only concession to vanity is that I've got blended bifocals instead of lines. It's no one's business but my own. And that's the most freeing part. I no longer care what others think.

I threw a HUGE party for my 40th, which is completely out of character for me. I rented out a hall and had it catered. There were almost 60 people there. It almost brought me to tears to see everyone show up.

My family is on notice that I'm going to have an even bigger one for my 50th and they'd better show up.

[Raindrop]

Right before turning 30, I got out of a very, very bad abusive marriage with my beautiful son. When I turned 40, I was happy sort of fit and just coasting, but shortly after went into fitness in a HUGE way. What I assumed was a fit life changed when I got heavily into body-building and eating to maintain that life so...by the age of 42, I was in the best "photo" shape of my life.

Then, after a few years of maintaining that lifestyle I went into (in addition to my business life of being an economic-analyst) getting my personal training certification, Spinning Certification and ACE fitness Trainer certification.

I eventually left my day job (the big-bucks job) to start my own in-home personal training business that I've been doing for the last four years. I'm happier, poorer, but feel good every night I go to sleep because, unlike my last career, I have the opportunity to make a difference...not matter how small or large...in someone's life, instead of just impacting the bottom line of a corporation.

Yes, sometimes I worry that those wrinkles on my neck show my age. But, I still can work beyond most of my clients abilities no matter how young they are. I'm one tough lady!!!!

[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.