To ask if your life changed in an exciting or good way after 45?

Agree it should be in classics!

@DaemonMoon I felt like you a year ago. Fabulous man, great job, lovely family, financially comfortable, world my oyster..... but felt utterly pointless and uninteresting. I couldn't think of anything I wanted to do or cared about much. Just wanted to be left in peace. For me it was my peri hormones. Within a week of starting Oastragel, I felt glimmers of interest in life again. Six months after, I'm feeling excited by all the things I might do and have lots of energy to do them.

I'm not normally a medicine person. But this has truly given me my appetite for life back. Might not be the answer for you, but if this listlessness is a relatively new thing for you, then it might be worth looking into. I also had some therapy, but truly feel the biological tweak was the massive deciding factor.

I am loving this thread.... it is so inspiring! I feel like it should be in classics..... it would be so useful when going through that transition/dip to know there are new, exciting chapters possibly waiting.

Massive kudos to all the amazing women achieving so much joy and adventure!

I'm 4 years into a role within a sector which has just emerged. Great hobbies. Writing a book and I adore writing so much. Lovely house. Family (although my 3 parents have health issues). Go to shows. But I just feel like I'm filling up time.

You are confusing me now.
On OTHER threads people talk constantly about how awful it is to reach 38 onwards and how everything goes to shit. I was saying how positive this thread was about ageing which is odd for MN who often say the opposite.

But people on this thread are on this thread and are as you say very positive about life post 45+. We didn’t misunderstand you. Perhaps you misunderstood which thread you put your negative message on?

I for one love this thread. Life begins again ❤️

Well that's just not true, unless your idea of yourself is forever 21, in which case you might have to do some big thinking work.

You misunderstood me.
People on this thread are very positive about ageing. On others, a very different view where many say that as soon as you turn 40, everything goes to shit.

🙄 have you read any posts?

You could try listening to the shift podcast it’s about women over 40. Although interviewees are famous (ish) it is good for seeing there are possibilities.

For me it was two fold. Started HRT and also went out dancing at clubs, gigs and festivals.
I also got a new job, took up new sports and singing.
For me change is always needed

Ooh know this road well!

Oooh we literally lived down the road from there…..thanks v much. Very tempting!!

Yes, definitely. 48 and nearly finished my first novel which I started last year. Lost 4 stone in the past two years and look and feel great.

Yes, loads of nice things, but down to my own actions not sitting around waiting for something to fall into my lap.

God yes, my 40s were a time of change for the better. I'm 47 now. I started an undergrad degree in 2020, so your age. And an now doing an MA and applying for a PhD.

I also moved my horse from one yard to another 3 years ago and that has changed things massively. I ride 4 times a week at least.

Dd went off to uni, came back and went again. Ds is in year 6 and getting more and more independent. DH has accepted everything, all the changes and time commitments a lot easier than he would have say 10 years ago.

Nothing changes unless you change it yourself. Find a hobby, a sport, something just for you. If that doesn't make you fizz, find something else. It's no one else's job to make you happy.

Met DH at 42, was recently separated from ex and had 2 DS 5 and 7.

Now 54, the past decade with DH has been much better than the decade with my ex. In so many ways!

At 45 I had a newborn. Briefly had a husband but life is much better without him dragging me down. Took up sport again. Expanded my friendship group with the addition of mum/sport friends. Working full-time.

Every life stage has had its ups and downs but genuinely more ups than downs. Losing friends in their 40s makes you appreciate the life you have and the need to make the most of it.

Embrace it!

Times arrow is accelerating - don’t waste time or you will ultimately pass on full of regret.

Or don’t - it’s your life.

I am 53 and a lone parent for 15 years to DD15

At 45 I did feel stagnant and very pressurised but I went full on in my career and tripled my salary in the last 8 years.

I think the biggest drudge as a lone or single parent is the financial pressure so I worked to fix that.

YES! At 47 I got divorced, moved house, got a challenging but amazing new job, joined a whole new community through work, hooked up!

I have found so much freedom, love and purpose in my late 40s and I feel incredibly lucky.

And one more opposite Greenwich park a few minutes from me on a lovely terrace, one of the best roads in the area (that's the view of the park opposite)

And here's a lovely 3 bed on the Cator estate in Blackheath, probably one of the nicest areas near me

My career has taken off and my DC are more independent. HRT didn’t work for me

Strand flat !