Ponder this: is 40 the new 20??? I have friends and family who have hit the 40 birthday marker, or beyond, and they have: kids in primary school (kindie to grade 3), brand new sports cars or partners that are more than 10 years younger than themselves. They are healthy, uninhibited, experienced, fearless, adventurous and wise. And....they look great. Their skin glows. Their bodies are beautiful. Their hair is radiant. And they laugh things off! Nope, they are not at all 'old', but they are sure not 20 either!!
When I was 20ish, I lived in an apartment with a guy I barely knew, had car posters on the livingroom walls, drank an excess of Extra Old Stock beer, ate McDonalds as a regular treat (sick!!), drove really fast in my Grand Prix, slept in every weekend and barely called my parents.
Now that I have mastered 40, I have a mortgage and a 16 year old daughter who I orbit, have a Van Gogh replica and family photos on my walls, I drink pomegranate juice for the anti-oxidants, eat 90% optimal health foods, have my dad's Toyota Camry and his veteran plates, get up at 5 am and I call my mom every day at least once (and pray to my dad many times a day).
I enjoyed being 20, particularly because of the lack of responsibilities. However, I really enjoy being in the forty club. My life has more meaning and I have more options.
I still like Led Zeppelin, purple nailpolish, jeans, muscle cars, cats, boots, sunsets, full moons and summer. Some things never change.
How do you feel about 40??? What's the same? What's different?
No, 40 is NOT the new 20.
I was told when I hit 40 I would lose the worries I felt in my thirties. Never happened. My tummy expand on my fortieth birthday and my hips shrunk. And still the worries lingered. I thought I would be wise, but that comes in your fifties. That is when, you realise what you will never do or what you don't know. The world becomes more grey along with the hair. I loved my forties, but I have more freedom in my fifties. Knowing you will never be on a World Cup team or be eligible to be a contestant for the Bachelor is freeing. What you cannot be allows you to be and not be. It is all very zen like!
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