Did anything good happen to you in your forties?

Congratulations!

This.
It started in my late 30s but has bloomed in my 40s!
There have also been crap days and amazing days - I've learned more about what matters and what doesn't, and how to pull myself through what I call 'treacle' days!
I've also taken up new hobbies and learnt new skills. I've lots to look forward to.

After lots of loss and then nothing happening, finally had my miracle baby at 40!
in fact my pregnancy started the day I turned 40 and this was the start of the life I always dreamed of :D

I had my much-awaited baby when I was 40.

When I returned from mat leave, I had a couple of really rewarding additional responsibilities.

I learned a few new practical skills at home.

I’m now facing my 50s. I still FEEL young, but I can see that I am starting to show my age in my physical appearance. A decade on, I also feel that I have achieved what I want to at work, and am starting to look towards my retirement.

My eldest brother is in his early 60s and the other is nearly 60. They don’t seem old in their actions or attitudes either.

Life isn’t over when you turn 40. With luck, you’re not even halfway through!

I became richer and developed more confidence.

Yes everything...I love my 40s..
I had a dc and got a house and finally got friends I can trust. After moving every 6 months in my 20s and 30s..
I love my 40s!!!

Kids left home, able to go on holidays when we wanted, weekends away, paid mortgage off, both went to part time hours, and enjoy life

Got married (after 11 years and 2 children), moved countries, got my dream job, made a load of new friends and a new best buddy, got a Masters degree (part time whilst working full time), found out I have a half sister and have started building a relationship with her, survived a pandemic, watched my children grow from toddlers to teens. My 40's were a blast and my 50s have got off to a good start. I have been very lucky.

Life.
Alive.

I emigrated to NZ in my 40s which has proved an excellent move.

But, the best thing I did in my 40s was to make it through to my 50s. I had a friend who did not make it and I am so bloody thankful to still be here in my 60s.

So far my 30s and 40s have been better than my 20s!

In my 40s I had a baby and became mortgage free as the standout things.

Had a surprise baby, changed job to accommodate said baby, then got dream job!
Apart from COVID, my 40’s were bloody brilliant!

I'm 49 and my 40's have been literally life changing! Moved back from overseas to an area of the UK I'd not lived in before. I separated from then divorced from my now ex husband. I met and fell in love with my current partner, who is honestly the love of my life, and we moved in together with his kids and mine. I retrained in a new field, got a part time minimum wage job after being a sahm for many years whilst we were overseas (for my exh career), and managed to turn that into a full time really well paid job, which I love, working with people I like and respect. My children are doing really well at school, eldest has just had an unconditional offer at the uni she wants to go to (we're in Scotland so she already has one set of Highers results under her belt).

There are more big changes coming up, and my 50's don't scare me at all! Life gets better and better. I give less and less of a shit what people think of me, and now wonder why I spent so much time worrying about that when I was younger.

I work in a field that is almost exclusively male dominated, and work with about 35 men (and one other woman who works predominantly from home), and they all treat me with nothing other than respect. I've never been made to feel like I'm somehow less useful or over the hill because of my age.

I got a new job and doubled my salary (old job was more part time and v badly paid though). I’ve also run marathons in my 40s and got faster and fitter than ever before.

I'm curious, so many posters saying that they're unaffected by ageism in the media (or denying it even exists) and that in your 40's you stop giving a shit about what you look like, no longer care what others think, feel more confident and secure in yourself etc so how is it that botox, fillers and other cosmetic procedures have become so normalised? I'm not being goady, I'm just really (pleasantly) surprised by these posts.

I'm turning 40 this year and life is good. I'm happily married, have a job I'm passionate about that allows me a good work/life balance, the DC are still in primary school but gradually getting more independent, we've bought our 'forever' home. But i'll be honest and admit that ageing does get me down sometimes. I feel like I have to put twice as much effort in to look half as good as I did 10 years ago. It would be really nice to not give a shit.

Discovered yoga...life changing

Got a new job working with best team I've ever worked with

Got a dog

Bad stuff

Lost my mum and both my in-laws

Three kids and then basically found myself in all ways 😃

I love being in my 40s (nearly 50).
I'm more confident
I like being old and see it as a privilege (anyone who thinks it's a negative is an idiot).
I changed career and love my new job.
I took up football, netball and running so feel fitter.
My kids are teens and are lots of fun and I have more time to myself.
I learnt the piano and perform with a really amazing choir.
I give even less of a fuck than I did about what others think
I've got a brilliant grey streak on my hair.
My wrinkles are like my dads so I look like I'm smiling loads 😁.
I have lost some friends to illness and accident and take each year as a true blessing to be enjoyed.

40s were great, met DH, got married, moved house, new job. This of course came with its own challenges like it would in 20s or 30s but you’re far from past it at 40! Enjoy it.

I fell head over heels in love when I was 48.

So far my forties are fabulous. A lot of it is because I don’t feel a need to chase approval anymore. Apparently this maybe peri menopause, in which case - bring it on.

I moved to a lovely house, I’m doing a degree at the OU, my kids are more independent so the balance of life is on lots more fun rather than stressing about them. DH and I are achieving things.

popular culture has this idea that women past 30 are over the hill. I think that’s because the older women get, the less they care for societal (read male) approval and so stop ‘playing the game’. We become confident and strong in ourselves and able to recognise our own worth.

Forties have been touch mh issues, a lot of stresses/losses. I also feel so achy all time plus hormones are haywire.

But I am grateful we are financially secure and have a wonderful family

I got divorced, started a new career, bought a flat, went from C25K & Parkrun to a half-marathon, took up feminist campaigning and cat fostering & made a lot of new friends. I’m 50 now & hoping my next decade will be as good.

Indeed it is a great and uplifting thread.

Interesting to compare it to the “don’t women know fertility falls off a cliff at 35?!?!” thread from the other day.

Any man who would say that is an asshole, why would you care about the opinions of assholes?