Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What’s the most amazing / inspiring thing you learned to do after 40?

191 replies

Okaaaay · 20/04/2023 21:23

Ok, so not an AIBU but posting here for lighthearted traffic. Just turned 40 and feeling as flat as a pancake. Would love to hear some of the wonderful (and weird) things you’ve learned to do after 40 to give me a bit of a lift. It might be to do a handstand, learn a language, to swim, run, cook a new dish - anything you are proud of. Go!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
blinkboo · 20/04/2023 21:32

Play the piano. Really well!!!!

Toebrushtoe · 20/04/2023 21:32

Learned to ballroom dance! Got our gold medals in ballroom and latin, but stopped taking exams as it took a lot of the enjoyment out of it.
Still going to classes though 23 years later, and our dance school has social evenings every weekend so we have somewhere to dance!

Original poster
Okaaaay · 20/04/2023 21:32

You are all brilliant - thank you for sharing. Love the energy to go back and retrain, or learn languages / instruments.

OP posts:
Friendlybreadbin · 20/04/2023 21:31

Lifelong runner but got injured. Took up cycling as an alternative, when my injury cleared up I started duathlons. Now compete for my age group for GBR. Bought my first road bike at 43.

KayohB · 20/04/2023 21:31

Not sure it’s inspiring but I learnt to play the ukulele after getting one for my 40th birthday, I find it really relaxing now and figure it must be good for my brain…. now I just need to muster up the courage to perform in public!

CatNamedEaster · 20/04/2023 21:30

Baking. Only attempted cakes a few times before, with disastrous results. Then DS was born and had food allergies that meant shop-bought cakes and biscuits were off limits. So I learned vegan baking and I'm pretty good now.😋

Now at the other end of my 40's I've taken up weights and resistance work . Very early days but I love learning about what to do for different muscles, and the concentration and discipline needed to keep the correct form. Even better, it's something that is totally for ME.😃

Roguebludger · 20/04/2023 21:30

This is an amazing thread, thanks op. I will be completing my masters for my 40th and then hopefully starting my PhD, completing before I'm 50 hopefully!

cmt1375 · 20/04/2023 21:30

Drive a large goods vehicle

Wnikat · 20/04/2023 21:29

Give zero fucks.

Isseywith3witchycats · 20/04/2023 21:29

i did a degree it was a part time one aimed at older learners cost a bomb as i didnt qualify for any help but loved doing it just to say i had done one

Luckydog7 · 20/04/2023 21:29

OK not quite 40 but 36 and after having two babies in my early 30s....

Learned a brand new drawing skill (3d modelling) in a new piece of software, started my own business and since January deriving a decent part time income from it after losing my 'real' job in September.

Last week i learned to crochet flowers for my friend's wedding button holes.

I'm starting a creative writing course in a couple of weeks...

GrumpyInsomniac · 20/04/2023 21:28

Did a MSc to change career. Learning Japanese. Learned to code in R and Python. I’m mostly proud that I stood up for and enabled my inner nerd to shine and did things I really wanted to do instead of just getting stuck in a rut, because that’s how all these things happened.

Original poster
Okaaaay · 20/04/2023 21:28

@DontMakeMeSayItTwice thats super brave - it must be scary to learn as an adult. Hope you’ve found joy in swimming.

OP posts:
DontMakeMeSayItTwice · 20/04/2023 21:26

I learned to swim, at the age of 56 (I'm now 64)

Original poster
Okaaaay · 20/04/2023 21:26

@illiterato yes!! That is amazing (and would be a huge achievement).

OP posts:
illiterato · 20/04/2023 21:25

The monkeybars.