Did anything good happen to you in your forties?

I'm 44. In my 40s I've had my 3rd child, started my second business and made my first million. Going well so far.

I raised DC who were born in my very late thirties and early forties. I got a book published too... but mainly raised DC and that was good. Worthwhile. Moved to a lovely house as well.

Good for you @CutthroatDruTheViolent embody away!

I spent a good chunk of my year last year learning a very obscure language from a lovely native speaker. When we got to ages, I said, in the language, "I am 21" and laughed. She looked confused and said, "oh yes, I've heard women in the West value youth" with a little sigh. In her culture older women rule the roost, and wisdom and knowledge are more important.

Men might fetishise youth but they don't respect it.

I moved to the USA, got a green card, moved into professionally supervising others, studied "abroad" and have a job I enjoy.
I am more confident in my own skills and abilities.

It's not perfect, I've struggled for the first time ever with weight, hormones aren't great for my skin and my body doesn't bounce back like it used to. But I've done a lot of living.

My 40s were phenomenal. I achieved so much career-wise, started earning more money, had some joyous times with my DC, paid the mortgage off, and stopped giving a shit about what other people thought of me.
I did a masters and a PhD and now working in my absolute dream role just in time to turn 50.
I've never felt better

Got married, had a baby, moved into our forever home.

Finally found stability and my happily ever after

The best thing about being in your forties is that you start to worry less about what you're "told" (especially by men!) I cared a lot less about what other people thought of me.

My kids were at junior school, so a great stage, I was able to work a few more hours a week, I felt a lot more confident in myself, personally and professionally and went for promotion. Financially I started to be in a better place (in credit 😂). I ran a marathon, I was probably the fittest I have ever been.

My relationship has got better the longer we've been together, we got married just before I turned forty and it brought a new dimension to things.

I think it's a great age to be! It was the decade I came into myself!

I'm trying to embody this myself! Turned 40 in 2022 and honestly I had a bit of a crisis. I felt - and still do - feel old.

Those of you being snarky about the 'marketing' comment - cop the fuck on, stop being disingenuous. We all know that pop culture (and incel men) points at women over 30 let alone 40 as over the hill, especially if we have th audacity to be single, or overweight, or not stunningly beautiful. Just Google for any article from an actress asked to play the mother of a man only ten years her junior, for example.

Anyway, some good things - we bought a new house, I got a new job, we're going on a fantastic holiday soon and generally life is good.

I landed in my best job. Pay was crap but the work was easy and I had the best manager of my life - still in contact nearly twenty years later.

Now if only I can repeat that pattern!

Half way through my forties and loads of good things have happened

Returned to workplace and have progressed in my new job
Have more income
My kids are getting older and independent so I have more time for myself
I have an appreciation for my health & body that just wasnt there when I was younger
Can spot a fake person a mile away and have zero tolerance for them
Im a lot more confident in myself and my own skin.

I love my forties so far!

Hmm, 40s has been v challenging so far but 30s was harder (DH cancer diagnosis and death). I’m only half way through my 40s, and I’m still generally hopeful and definitely achieving things.

I married my DH at 43. I fostered our foster child at 45.

What marketing ?

Loads of fab things happened to me in my 40s.
Even more so in my 50s.
I generally would say that life gets better with each passing decade (I presume I might change my mind if my health suffers in my 80s).

I went on a festival cruise alone, made new friends from all over the world who I go to gigs and festivals with still, lots of fun times with friends and family, new house, new job, promotions and have doubled my salary, enjoyed my ds growing from an 8 year old to a 13 year old who is a delight to spend time with. A few more years to go but so far totally recommend the 40s

Got a degree, had a child, moved to a nicer area, made new friends.

On the downside, lost a parent, an aunt and an uncle. Didn't find a suitable job on the back of the degree.

It balances out. I don't feel hard done by or dissatisfied.

So far (now late 40s)...

Positives:

successfully supported DC through nursery and primary school;

became single/a single parent;

trained and am working successfully in a completely new profession;

started writing a novel;

met a DP and got engaged;

made some great new friendships;

feel more content and comfortable in myself...

getting hrt...

Negatives:

worries about ageing parents;

worries about ageing and health;

grey hair (dyeing is a hassle) and plump;

needing hrt.

Life got easier as DC needed less full on care and became more self sufficient. Family life was very enjoyable.
Meanwhile my career really took off.
As a bonus DH and I were earning well and had money for great family holidays.

My career really took off. The children were more independent so I could work longer hours and had more energy. Greater experience, more assertiveness and a growing calm confidence gained me more respect than when I was younger.

My marriage became more equal and calmly supportive after the power-struggles of the early child-rearing years.

I had a baby at 44. Then my career really took off in my late 40s. It was by best decade.

My 30s were so so good and I’ve had a bumpy start to my 40s. I’ll be 42 on Sunday and dh has a high temperature so it’s not looking like it’ll be an amazing start to being 42. However, I’m studying a post grad qualification that’ll finish this year (if it doesn’t break me first), I have a decent paid job (not on mn but above average), amazing dh, 3dc who I love hanging out with and they like being with me (ages 12-16), lots of things planned - holidays, concerts etc. life is pretty good. I also gone far less shits to other people’s opinions.

Of course. My 50s are better though.

This! My friend said it would happen and it did. I was in my prime work wise, confident, then I got pregnant which I also took in my stride.

It's my sixties which are a real downer health wise

Went to uni, which I'd wanted to do since a teenager, and got a first class Bsc. New professional career at 46