To think that 40 is not that bad?

[irisetta]

For some context - I'm now 41, in a reasonably happy marriage, 2 DCs (4 and 7, one with ASD) - I try to look after myself, as and when. Yes there are challenges, but when I compare my state of mind with early 20s, or even 30s, with overall sense of perspective, etc - I feel so much happier now, overall. AIBU?

Just 40 here it's fine so far

I thought this was going to be no of sexual partners.

I'm happier at 39 than I was at 29 or 19 so YANBU.

I'm also 41 and it is the best time of my life!!

Bit rubbish here. Finding it so hard to get back into a career, have put on weight, am exhausted and generally less employable than I was as a student.

I am coming up to 40. And am as happy as I have ever been.

I am losing weight tbh. But that's more down to lockdown and not exercising enough, rather than age.

My eldest is almost 18 and my youngest 11. So I have much more freedom and choice about how I spend my time. My career is finally in a place where I get flexibility so I can be there for the kids when they need me. Work when suits.

Life's pretty good.

My life in my mid 40s is the best it has ever been. It's also the most stressful, it's not all a bed of roses, but on the whole I'm an awful lot happier than in my 20s and 30s.

@SleepingStandingUp

I thought this was going to be no of sexual partners.

Made me laugh

Also nearly fourty and the happiest I've ever been. Finally letting go of a lot of emotional baggage from childhood/teens, have a happy marriage, a decent income and I am losing weight and looking after myself. The future seems much brighter now.

I’d like to have the body and energy I had in my 20s with my 41 year old mind…!

I found my super power at 40.

I feel better at 50 than I ever have (HRT aside 😄). I absolutely hated my 20s as there was so much transitional stuff/pressure going on when I was becoming an adult but not properly grownup, IYSWIM?.

I agree - over 40 onwards have felt like "me". I've felt more equipped for life as I've aged, and my confidence has finally arrived. In my 50s now and feel like a proper grown-up and agree that HRT is a wonderful thing! Good luck to you OP 😊

I agree, gets even better over 50!

I'm a naysayer early 40’s. The only good part for me is being invisible to men! Otherwise- divorce, stressed teenagers (one with disabilities), aging parents with health problems/dementia (common theme among friends). I don't have time for myself. I was thinking yesterday about my carefree 20’s and happy days in my 30s when the kids were younger. I'm finding it hard.

I'm 42. Nothing about aging has bothered me yet. Might still do I guess. Started going grey about 26 which I found more interesting than anything else.

20s were mostly miserable, 30s were great, 40s all good too so far.

40 isn't bad at all. I didn't think it should be or expected to be.
50 isn't bad either and shouldn't be. Neither is/should 60, 70, 80, etc.

It's okay to get older.

Not that bad?

Not bad at all.

44 and I feel truly able to be me, so I love it.

I'm sure it's fine when you've already got a partner and kids. If you're single and desperate to be a mum, not so much.

I agree and I loved my early 40’s, I felt fab and had energy, felt healthy and fit and had energy for loads of exercise. My kids were a bit older so I had more time to myself. Then I became Perimenopausal at 45 and now at 48 I feel like shit every day. I can’t believe how different I feel in just a few years. I am hoping and praying it’s a hormonal blip and I can get over and feel as good as I did in my early 40’s 🤞

Glad you are feeling this way!
For anyone thinking it’s downhill I’m 57 and that’s great too!
I rock and wish I’d found myself when I was younger

Not trying to be an arse but no of course yanbu to feel happy, glad you are! Other people with different circumstances could be the same age as you and feel absolute shit tho, so not really sure what the question is…we don’t all follow the same pattern in life so different people are bound to be happier/unhappier at different points 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'll be 40 next year. At 20, I was anxious about passing my degree and getting a job. At 30, I was panicking about whether I was going to get married and have kids. Now, I'm married with DS and a job I really enjoy and, a few little things aside, I am definitely at my happiest.

In other news, 60 is not that bad either.