And just like that, it’s happening, I am turning 40! How? Why? I just don’t understand. What do they say, 40 is over the hill? But that can’t be me. I’m not old. I don’t feel at all how I thought I would feel at this age. But I don’t look at all what I thought I would look like either.
Here’s why I believe 40 is the new 30.
I’m in the best shape of my life.
After having my third child two years ago, I made the decision it was finally time to run that marathon I had been dreaming of. I’ve always been pretty active and enjoyed working out, but this was on another level. Running a full marathon was tough, took a lot of preparation and time away from my family and wasn’t the most fun thing I’ve ever done. Just like most huge accomplishments in life, the feeling after makes up for all the pain and heartache during. Putting this kind of focus on my health and fitness while getting older has really helped me to understand that age is just a number. My fitness at 40 way exceeds anything I was capable of at 20. What a cool feeling as a woman!
I appreciate more and take less for granted.
I have an amazing life to be thankful for, and turning 40 really puts that into perspective. I’ve been through hard times and come out stronger. I’ve watched friends care for sick children. And I’ve had those close to me lose loved ones. With age has come this feeling of thankfulness, thankful for all the wonderful people in my life and appreciative of the blessings they bring. I have an amazing support system in my husband, parents and close friends that I do not take for granted. The older I get, the more I realize tomorrow is not promised, for anyone. Showing kindness and love to those around you, even strangers, can really change the world.
I feel more like myself.
This is probably the best thing about turning 40, in my opinion. I feel more like myself than I ever have. Knowing what I want, what it takes to get there and how worthy I am of it all is such an amazing feeling. As a younger woman, I never felt truly at home with myself. Floating through life as a mother and a wife and not really feeling fulfilled with either of those roles was a lonely feeling and place to be. I stayed at home with my children, because that’s what I thought I was supposed to do, while putting them in mother’s morning out programs as soon as I was able. I didn’t really want to go back to work though, because I wasn’t fulfilled in the workplace either.
Sitting down and being honest with myself about what I wanted out of life, what truly mattered to me as a woman and mother wasn’t something I even felt comfortable doing. Now that I am older, I have the wisdom to take time for me and what I want. I am going back to school in a field that I am passionate about. I’ve had another child and have enjoyed every single moment of staying at home with him for this long. I am a much better wife, realizing how important our relationship as husband and wife is to our entire family.
Turning 40 has me looking at the world through a new set of eyes (not reading glasses just yet). Age is absolutely just a number, and 40 isn’t so bad after all. Now I just have a decade to talk myself into thinking that 50 is the new 40.
