Tell me about new, big things you’ve achieved post 40! I need to be inspired!

[40goodthings]

Been feeling the slump since I hit 40. Maybe a midlife crisis?! I know it’s silly, but I can’t help but think that if I was going to achieve this particular new exciting work thing (a change of career entirely), I would have done it by now.

So let’s hear about all your amazing life changes / achievements post 40!

Oh these are so fantastic! I am loving reading them!

Ok. I wasn’t going to say because I do feel a bit embarrassed, but this is an anonymous forum so it’s ok . To the PP who asked, my dream is to write fiction for teenagers. I write for a hobby (that I never ever show anyone!), as it’s relaxing and my job is quite hectic. But - as I said in my other post - I can’t help but think that if I was going to be a YA author, I’d be one by now.

Although now all of your brilliant achievements are making me feel like it’s not too late!

I can’t help but think that if I was going to be a YA author, I’d be one by now.

You are one, you are just unpublished.

I wrote 3 books which got published, and I moved 2 countries.

Since the age of 40:

I divorced a man who made me miserable

I've brought up my 2 wonderful DCs by myself

I got a full time job in a language I don't speak, passed a professional exam in that language and now speak it pretty well.

Met a lovely new man who appreciates me.

Learned to paddleboard

Visited my brother in Australia

I'm 50 in a couple of weeks, my ambitions for the next 10 years are:

Learn to surf

Do my boat licence

Buy a camper van

Change jobs

While I've had difficult moments in the past 10 years things haven't been too bad😁

Not really something I have 'done' but I have become more assertive and happier in my own skin.

OK, so you are an unpublished writer at the moment! If the dream is to be a published writer, start with some baby steps - join an online writers group and let other people read what you write. Do a short creative writing course, there's online ones especially at the moment. Join in on the MN writing group. Its so not too late, and its something you can work around work and family - so go out and make it happen!

Took a 'Gap Year' and travelled overseas at age 41.

Had my first (& last) baby at 43

Moved to two completely new areas of the country, had to build new friendships etc

Started a new job.

Set up a thriving volunteer project.

At 55 gave up our jobs, rented out our house and went travelling for 12 months to New Zealand and Australia. Lived in a tent in Oz for 9 months.
Best time of of our lives.

I got my PhD at 43. Not very cool, sorry!

I got a full time job in a language I don't speak, passed a professional exam in that language and now speak it pretty well.
That is very impressive!

@lonel

I got a full time job in a language I don't speak, passed a professional exam in that language and now speak it pretty well. That is very impressive!

What is it they say? Necessity is the mother of invention.

After my H left me and my 2 DCs in France and cancelled my access to the UK bank account I had to do something. His leaving was the best thing he ever did in my marriage 😁😁

Learned to scuba dive. Got fit. Started a rewarding new career. Got divorced. Got a dog. Met a new partner. Learned a new language. Taught myself to crochet. Actually these were all post 50. At 40 I was mired in family life, a humdrum job and a lacklustre marriage.
Your best years are ahead of you!

Renovated two houses, learnt Italian, bought a van and travelled around Europe with my dog, sold up and moved to France where I've just bought another renovation job. I'm 58.

I appreciate I was very lucky to have been born in ye olden times when property was affordable. This combined with having an eye for a bargain has enabled me to retire.

I did a career 'pivot' (annoying expression, sorry) at 41 and now have a really great, fun, interesting, and lucrative job that I absolutely love.

I've loved my 40s, the odd aches and pains notwithstanding!

You should absolutely keep writing op - I'm 40 and just signed my first publishing contract.

I quit a job I’d had for 15 years at 40 and retrained in a different career - definitely not too late !

@40goodthings

Oh these are so fantastic! I am loving reading them!

Ok. I wasn’t going to say because I do feel a bit embarrassed, but this is an anonymous forum so it’s ok . To the PP who asked, my dream is to write fiction for teenagers. I write for a hobby (that I never ever show anyone!), as it’s relaxing and my job is quite hectic. But - as I said in my other post - I can’t help but think that if I was going to be a YA author, I’d be one by now.

Although now all of your brilliant achievements are making me feel like it’s not too late!

I'm not a YA writer, but I wrote my first novel on maternity leave when I was 40. It was published when I was 42.

Have you actually sent your YA novel out to agents at all? Because that sounds to me like the reason you aren't a published YA author -- to get representation and a publisher, you have to let other people read your work.

Can you take a first step and have someone you know who reads YA and whom you can trust to be honest and constructive to read it?

I got my first significant research grant and am presenting at my first international conference this year.

What a great thread. Thanks @40goodthings for starting this. I am not yet 40 but getting really inspired for the next decade by such amazing people

Love reading these!

At the age of 49, I applied for a full-time job (having been varying degrees of PT for previous 19 years) in a slightly different field & love it!

Ran first marathon aged 41 and second marathon aged 49. Took up cycling aged 47. Took part in organised Lands End to John O'Groats cycle event (over 9 days) aged 53.

And, a colleague started training to be a vicar aged 60. (She is now fully trained 🙂)

@sashh

I can’t help but think that if I was going to be a YA author, I’d be one by now.

You are one, you are just unpublished.

Thank you - I loved reading that!

Have you actually sent your YA novel out to agents at all? Because that sounds to me like the reason you aren't a published YA author -- to get representation and a publisher, you have to let other people read your work.

I haven’t shown anyone in about 20 years. Rubbish ex was the last person to read anything and he said, after reading, “Good thing you have a backup plan,” (the “back up plan” being the job I was training to do at the time - and the job I now do).

Better prove to myself that he was wrong, then

You’re all really inspirational. I love reading these stories of adventures and new jobs and new skills.

And I love reading about you writers who published after 40!

I’m going to sign up for an online course as suggested. I may not have an ounce of talent, but at least trying will mean I’m attempting to live out a dream

Lost seven stone and trained as a yoga instructor. Feel more energetic than I did at 20 and it has opened up loads of other opportunities and experiences and things I’ve spent my entire life feeling self conscious and incapable of doing.

Got a degree.
Had a child.
Got a master's degree.

To be honest I haven't done quite so much since then, but I have signed up for some adult education courses in subjects that interested me, and done some tutorials with people working on their dissertations.

Had dd at 41
Emigrated at 50
Qualified as hr/payroll manager in French at 59 (2 yrs post A level in 6 months)
Had first orgasm at 59
Left abusive xh after 40 years at 61
Learning to 'sext' in French at 65

Can't think of anything else