How did you deal with turning 40?

[BeyonceZ]

I'll be 40 in a year's time (turning 39 soon) and I just can't wrap my head around it.

Does life drastically change? Do hopes and dreams change?

I'm a bit baffled that aging by a year, every year, is something to wrap ones head around, or to have to 'deal' with.

My amazing, wonderful, kind Aunt died aged 39, in the most horrible, painful way, leaving behind a devestated husband and two children who were beyond heartbroken by the death of their Mum. Knowing that she was leaving them behind was, to her, much more painful than the cancer that killed her. There are worse things than turning 40.

Bold - it is terrifying, isn't it. Life can turn on a dime - you never know what's around the corner. 40 is a blessing.

I recall a thread on here a while ago - it was from someone about to turn 40, or in their 40s, and it was to all 50-, 60-, 70- and 80-somethings, along the lines of, 'what would you like to tell your 40-something self.

You often see threads asking people what they'd tell their teenage self. Well, this was similar.

The responses were so fab. Honestly, it was one of the best threads I've read on here. Really made me appreciate all that is good right now, and to make the most of still being - and looking - relatively young.

Instead of moping over the ageing process, I try to focus on all the good stuff - more confidence, more income, lovely family, friend, holidays, looks still just hanging in there. Still being alive!

Right now is as young as you'll ever be, you might as well enjoy it!

40 is awesome. I'm 44 and it's even better. Not much choice in the matter, darling. You get older or you're dead. Take your pick.

TheDowagerCuntess, absolutely, it is terrifying. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. I've also had an Aunt die in her thirties from suicide (for her, depression was a terminal illness), two uncles die in their 50's, another who died aged 18 (years before I was born). One of my best friends died at 18 from Leukemia, during her first year in University. A teenage boyfriend of mine died aged 19 in a motorcycle accident. I could go on.

Every year, every day we have is a blessing. And believe me, I don't say that easily. I've just had the worst day. I've had lots of very bad days. But we're here, and as long as we are, there's always the potential for tomorrow to be better.

Right now is as young as you'll ever be, you might as well enjoy it! I couldn't agree more with this.

I had a tummy tuck and signed up for my first triathlon!

I have no problem generally with birthdays or ageing but 40 loomed as a slightly more difficult milestone than the others, maybe because of things in life I hadn't done. I coped by taking stock of all the things that were good about my life (sounds cliched but it did help), by having a do with my family and by throwing a big party for friends - basically, by allowing other people to make me feel special. Now about three heartbeats later I'm 46....what was I worried about? Hope you find a way to commemorate the occasion that works for you and will give you some happy memories as your 40s fly by!

I had a huge party. A month later I was in an am dram performance wearing a very skimpy costume looking better than I did in my 20s. Then I got married, then pregnant!
40 was awesome and it's just getting better.

useristired so sorry.

User
I'm 40 very soon and it doesn't really bother me. I'm in quite a good place at the moment. I am doing a lot of celebrating this year though.

User
I'm 40 very soon and it doesn't really bother me. I'm in quite a good place at the moment. I am doing a lot of celebrating this year though.

You didn't get the memo?
Life begins.

What is bothering you about it? I know western culture focuses on youth, but what's your experience of getting older? I've found that I don't give a fuck, that I worry less, that I believe in myself, that I feel powerful, that I find most things funny because I see them in perspective, that I know everything will pass, and most importantly that my attitude towards things is the key to how I experience it, and how it impacts me.

I guess the downsides are

it's not so good when you look in the mirror, but for me that's been really ameliorated by greater self acceptance And feeling powerful in other ways.

And knowing you have less life left, that could really be a downer, but it does really make you appreciate and cherish what you've got.