What does turning 40 mean to you?

[emily_in_nc]

I don't understand why I am being attacked for complimenting everyone here. I don't particularly care about what pop culture says and thinks, I was mostly stating a point. The general culture is youth-obsessed and I think it's very sad.

I agree with you! Why else would plastic surgery, Botox, etc. be so prevalent now? Because so many of us in our 40s, 50s, and beyond want to look younger, to deny who we are becoming with the passing years. I wish we could all just age in peace and not feel compelled to look 30 again. It can put a tremendous amount of pressure on those of us who choose not to go the unnatural route. Then again, who am I to talk -- as so many others on here, I color my hair.

I think the women who have posted here have amply demonstrated that aging is not such a terrible thing after all, no matter what society/pop culture might think. We're healthy, fit, and feeling good about being in our 40s+. I think the whole entertainment industry (TV/movies/music) is playing a very insidious role in our lives when so many women our age feel that we must look years younger than we are. I've got two friends in their mid 40s who have both had several cosmetic surgeries already....while I'm certainly not ready to join them, it does make me wonder if when we get together in our 50s and 60s, I'll look 10-15 years older than them. Why do I care??? Because I too am a part of this culture we live in and I can't say I am totally immune to its influence. For those of you who can, I applaud you!

Emily

[KnottedYet]

I used to treat patients with botched plastic surgeries. (so bad they needed physical therapy!) Plastic surgery fell way down my list of "fun things" then.

I had a friend who was a nurse for a plastic surgeon. I went to her work a couple times, and the staff (who all got free surgery as a perk) creeped me out. They looked unnatural. Too perfect to be real. The receptionist looked like she was staring into a high wind her face was so tight.

I will tell you that an active healthy woman looks "younger" than one who has had a ton of plastic surgery. Watch the way she moves, her posture, how she breathes. It's really amazing what you see once you look beyond the "beauty" the media teaches us to fixate on.

Now, I'm not knocking reconstructive plastic surgery. I'm talking the kind where a perfectly nice-looking woman decides she needs to look "better".

[tygab]

I don't understand why I am being attacked for complimenting everyone here. I don't particularly care about what pop culture says and thinks, I was mostly stating a point. The general culture is youth-obsessed and I think it's very sad.

Hi Meaux, I'm sorry if it sounded like I was attacking you, certainly did not mean to be. I guess I didn't do a good job of explaining my thoughts. I was trying to say that I think we can see what we want to see in society and focus on what we want to focus on. I see a general culture that is 'age and wisdom obsessed', at least for all things unrelated to physical appearance. So for me getting older and wiser is a good thing!

[jobob]

Well, a very Happy Birthday to you Bluetree, err, 1 day late.

Howya doin?

[LadyinWhite]

I just turned 42 and can honestly say I'm more content now than I've ever been. Content with who I am as a human being.

Sure - I'll continue to work on improving my career, my fitness, my cycling, my parenting, my education.. etc etc ad naseum.

BUT - right now, today, in this moment - I've accepted myself - cellulite and all. I think it takes a good 20 years past turning 20 to learn true self acceptance and how to roll with it, how not to sweat the small stuff.

Bad hair cut? It'll grow out. Burned Thanksgiving dinner? There's always next year. Disasterous family vacation? Ah well, what can you do, try again ---- or not

A little life wisdom is worth the price of turning 40. I can't wait to see what I've learned by 50... 60..