to think that 40 years of age

[SoleSource]

is not OLD as in past it, dicrepit.

[SoleSource]

Nalu :)

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

"Getting older is better than the alternative" Well said nalu

[MrsCosmopilite]

If I end up cutting my hair (which obviously will happen one day!), then I'll have to dye it an outrageous colour. At the moment, it's scruffy and only a slightly unnatural shade.

I tend to wear t-shirts with slogans, and trainers, and carry a rucksack. And listen to loud music.

I'm reminded that the person I worked with thought she was being an assertive feminist, and once had a run-in with someone who'd come to fix the photocopier. Let's call her 'A'.
Engineer: Alright love? I've come to fix the copier
A: It's in the office. And I'm not your love.
E: Oh, okay darling.

I had to find some urgent work to do to mask my laughter.

[ivykaty44]

{grin] I don't think I will ever be ready for orthopaedic shoes, mimsy dress and watching miss Marple

I will though refuse to grow my hair and may even have a no1 cut

[MrsCosmopilite]

When I was in my 20's I worked with someone of 40. And she was OLD. I mean in her attitude, dress, behaviour. Frumpy, and out of touch.

I passed that milestone several years ago, but I do often feel as though I'm still about 18. I don't intend to start acting middle-aged until another couple of decades have passed. Maybe then I'll be ready for orthapedic shoes, mimsy dresses, short hair, and watching Miss Marple.

[ivykaty44]

but surely you don't have just one day as middle age - when you get to 40 and 6 months ...so for a day your middle aged and then what?

Its 35 - 45 and who cares a jot.

I work with a really old man,he is a grumpy old man who feels aches and pains and get tried if he isn't in bed for 10pm and then has to have his lovely routine and a beer on a saturday as a treat He has health and a decent body. He is the oldest man I know - he has been alive all of 26 years.

I know men of 70 that are far far younger and go out and still have a lot to do and a lot of fun along the way

[nalubeadsgirl]

Getting older is better than the alternative

I celebrate every year! If other people think 39/40 is old, then screw them!!! I'm young

[mizu]

I have been 40 for two weeks. Same as most on here, generally feel loads better than I did at 30, more sorted and settled, more confident. Happier and think I look better too.

There is still that little niggle though that I am getting older. You never think that it is going to happen to you do you?!

[EATmum]

With 40 looming, and all the perception changes that entails, I'm re convinced that it depends more on how happy you are with the way you've spent the time you have than the hours you've clocked. I'm happy and definitely happier at this age than almost any previous point. But that is probably a personal v insecure teenage/tween age for you ...

[worsestershiresauce]

Old is something that happens to other people.... never oneself

I'm 40, but good g*d I'm NOT old. Helps that I only look 25! That is true btw, I have always looked a lot younger than I am. When I was 21 a 13 year school boy asked me out. He refused to believe I wasn't the same age, to the point where he even asked my mum who was his teacher at school how old I was! I didn't like looking young then, but I do now.

[x2boys]

I,ll be 40 in november soi I defiatley dont think its to old however it does nt seem two minutes since i was 30 and in that time i have met and married my husband and become a mother twice over. what a difference a decade makes also i,m in a much better place at nearly 40 than at nearly 30 back than i was terminally single sick of going out trying to find a half decent man i,m quite looking forward to being 40

[HecateWhoopass]

Accept it.

embrace it

buy this

[SoleSource]

Nooo

[HecateWhoopass]

life expectancy of a british woman is 81, it seems

so halfway through that is about 6 months after your 40th birthday.

Making 40 middle aged.

Slap bang in the middle of the average lifespan.

Sorry folks, but we have to accept it We're middle aged women.

[SoleSource]

I am 39 in four weeks.
39 + 15 = 54

Ooh

[NotGoodNotBad]

"Middle age starts at 15 years older than whatever age you currently are.
Old age starts at 15 years older than that."

The definitive answer!

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

Middle age starts at 15 years older than whatever age you currently are.
Old age starts at 15 years older than that.

So for example, if you're 40, then middle age starts at 55 and old age starts at 70. This formula works for most ages; try it!

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

No, absolutely no way middle-aged is 30 - 60.

That's just not the way the term is used, even if logically it should be.

Middle-aged has always been a nice way of saying "getting on a wee bit" hence my definition that it has to be saved at least for the over 50's.

Also I think it refers to the middle years of your adult life, not your life as a whole. So under 18/20 is your childhood and teenage years. 20 - 50 adult life, 50 - 70 middle age, 70+ older life.

I guess you could divide 20 - 50 up a bit if you wanted, 20's could be young adult life, 30 - 50 just adult life (no further label needed)

This has obviously suddenly become incredibly important to me with 50 looming in a couple of years

[MerryCouthyMows]

Ifnotnow - I am most certainly NOT middle aged just because I'm 31! .

I fully intend to live to at least 100, like all the women in my family ignores body already broken by arthritis and epilepsy.

In which case I shan't be middle aged until I'm at least 50!

[mrsjay]

although I have started thinking of the young woman who works with me and is superior to me as a 'girl' I dont mean too

[JugglingFromHereToThere]

I think it's a shame if women only really see themselves as young in their twenties, and old by 40, no way !

Men don't do that to themselves, they are still happily buying sports cars (and getting well paid in their careers) in their 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Also I think there's a lot to be said for your attitude of mind. If you stay flexible in your attitudes even when your body can't touch it's toes anymore I think you won't seem nearly as old as you feel

I genuinely only really think of middle-aged as being over 50ish, but maybe it always has to be just a little older than you are yourself !

[NotGoodNotBad]

My FIL was recently described by his doctor as "a lovely middle-aged man". FIL is about 80!

So that makes me a mere whipper-snapper then.

[Foggles]

Every age is a blessing as you are still alive so enjoy.

^^ this

[SoMuchToBits]

Well, I'm 51, so I think 40 is quite youthful ........

[mrsjay]

I have a newborn and will be 39 next month..

see ^^ not old