I thought 40 was old. My mother was at 36, so some of my first memories of her were when she was forty. She was talking about things like “hot flashes” and “heavy periods” and most of the time, she would need a rest in the afternoon. Of the periphery, being a woman in her forties did not seem too fun.
As I made my way through my 1930s, I started to fear the Big 4-0. I imagined myself reaching this stage of life and wanting to hide. It was a period that I had associated with menopause, mortgages, having to sail in marriage problems, parents in difficulty and financial stress.
But now, as the milestone approaches, I don’t feel that at all. I will be 40 years old in May, and after years to fear it, I have changed my heart. I realized that I am very happy with my life path at this stage.
I loved my 20s and 30s, but I’m ready for the next step
With hindsight, my 20 years were an absolute explosion. They were full of trips and adventures – and some misadventures too. But there was also a lot of uncertainty and second guess. I didn’t really know who I was or where life would take me.
My 30th birthday changed all this. I married my eight -year -old partner, I founded a family, developed a business and Bought a family home. These are all major life goals for me that I checked, and it gave me a huge feeling of contentment and peace.
Now that my next decade is zero, I feel so excited by the next chapter. Of course, there may be things to navigate, such as menopause and wedding misfortunes or unexpected health difficulties, but there is also a lot to hope for.
The author says she is healthier now that she was not in their twenties and thirties. With the kind permission of Melissa Noble
I learned so much about me
To (almost) 40, I have more balance in my life than these previous versions of myself. I work four days a week and try to keep it during class hours so that I can spend more time with my children and not miss these precious years when they really want to be with me. I also recognize that even if I like to spend time with my family and friends, I need a lot of time alone to recharge myself.
I do more of what nourishes my soul and bring me joy, without feeling guilty. Sometimes it means crawling in bed at 9 p.m. and take a solid sleep of nine hours. Other times, it means neglecting household work and shopping for two hours with my 9 year old son or singing “U Can’t Touch this” at the top of my lungs while I make the racing man in our living room, to the great horror of my children.
I am also In better health at almost 40 years old Whether I was 20 or 30 years old. I do the exercise more coherently, I eat better and focus on my mental and physical well-being. I learned my limits with alcohol, and I know that I have to decide between a few glasses of wine and a good night’s sleep at this stage of my life. It sucks, but I made peace with that.
Above all, I feel like I accept myself for whom I am. When I was younger, I was so caught in what others thought that I changed my behavior and my appearance to integrate myself. These days, I am more comfortable in my skin, my wrinkles and everything. I am also better to tell my truth, which, being a pleasure from people, has always been a challenge for me.
One of my Best friends are 96 years oldAnd he is so young from heart. He sucks the marrow of life and always has a project in preparation, whether it is a book or flying in a Cessna (a small plane). He taught me so much about aging and life. Most importantly, he showed me that your attitude makes all the difference with your perception of reality, and this age is really just a number.
So, here are 40 years old. I plan to make the most of the next chapter of my life. Grow and embrace new experiences and continue my passions. At 40, I do not consider myself being above the hill. I stand on it and enjoy the view, baby!
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