Tell me why your 40's were better than your 30's

Every decade has its own rewards and its own hurdles. Never let fear get in the way of the adventure!

I agree that each decade has its own benefits. I turn 40 next year and at least right now, turning 40 doesn't bother me. I feel like at this age I've learned to let things go more and don't worry so much about the small stuff. It can be liberating to not care so much.

Sorry you are feeling down. Don't focus so much on where you think you should be with yourself ... we all take winding paths in life. And 40 is not old - there is a lot of time to do the things you want to do or work towards new goals.

I hope you get to do something fun on your birthday or treat yourself. You should celebrate 40!

Oh man, the 40s are great. I turned 44 last month, and pardon my french, but every year I give fewer and fewer fucks what other people think and it's incredibly liberating.

I finally understand that for me and my life, I know best. I don't second guess myself all the time. I have more respect for other people and their eccentricities and I give them more space to be themselves. I let everyone off the hook more often.

There's very little drama. I am digging it. I hope you do too!

I met the right man for me at 41 and got married for the first time at 42. We built our house and our life together. My 40's got off to a wonderful start!

I tell people not to give up on getting what you want - but not to just sit around waiting; get out and make things happen and be open to possibilities. I agreed to meet my now-husband even though he smoked and I'd always said "no smokers." I never nagged or pushed or begged. He quit smoking before we got married and hasn't had a cigarette since. If I'd said "no" back at the beginning, I'd have missed out on so much good. I had a good life before him, but it's better with him.

Gosh, I am thinking about turning 40 and honestly it has been a time of acceptance of what I can and can not do.

It has been a time that I have not stressed about things but have been able to make my plan and work towards it. It has been very Zen in do no harm and do not judge.

I also have a better understanding of my faults and imperfections and that makes me better at accepting and relating to others.

But,I have yet to figure out how to shed the extra 30 pounds that I've gained in my forties!

I was happy to turn 40 last fall. I know myself much better than I did ten years ago. I'm more comfortable in my skin and less concerned what people think about me.

And like I always say, way better than the alternative.

I turned 46 at the end of May... honestly, I had to get used to that particular number, because now I'm closer to my 'late' 40s... but it's all a mental thing, so by a few weeks later, I had already forgotten about it.

I like being in my 40s because I am finally at the age where I don't really care what 'people' think (who are those people, anyway?? lol!) about how I dress, what I look like, what I'm interested in, etc.   I am more 'my own person' finally, if that makes sense, and I feel freer to give my opinion about things as I've gotten older, both in my personal life and my professional life. I have almost 25 years of professional experience to call on and I feel like it's valuable, as well as all the personal life experiences I've had up to now.

Not that I'm a slob who doesn't care at all, or anything like that, but I know what clothing styles suit me, I know what I like and what I don't, and I don't really care about trends, today's fashion, etc. (Examples: I like listening to NPR, I watch Masterpiece Theater and other PBS shows, I don't watch reality tv and couldn't care less about the Kardashians or other pop culture (except I wish they'd go away)... I'm a science nerd who loves Star Wars, Star Trek, bird watching, etc. hard rock and heavy metal music. I got my first tattoo in my late 30s, I'm going to get my third one on Friday, and I already have ideas for at least two more.)


Basically, I don't feel like I need to act a particular way to 'fit in' any certain group; I'm my own group, I guess. As the years go by, I really don't think about what specific age I am at any given time because I still feel like 'me' on the inside, if that makes sense.


(plus, I had a hysterectomy a couple years ago and I am so GLAD to be over the whole period thing--  But that doesn't necessarily happen to everyone in their 40s... )

I say embrace and enjoy your 40s!! Happy Birthday!!  

I've enjoyed every decade.  I'll be 55 in a few months and have had a very rough ride for the past 6 years or so (with my health).  I was pretty sad about turnning 40 and I was in the WORST health of my entire life.  I couldn't dance too much (I was severely overweight), and it was an eye-opening time.  Right after that I made a conscious decision to regain my health, and I went from a size 20 to a 2 and got on a very healthy path.  By the time I was 41, I was the most fit and healthy that I ever was in my life!!  The rest of my 40's was a fun, healthy, experimental, empowering time for me.  I hope you enjoy your 40's.  It's a time where you don't put up with crap and you are more choosy with everything.

I just turned 40 earlier this year. I'm loving it. I feel more beautiful than I have ever felt my entire life. Beautiful inside and out, simply because I have accepted who I am. I am more than my imperfections. I have a life worth living to its fullest even if it's just vegging out on back to back episodes of Wentworth on the weekend. I decide what is important. Societal and familial expectations don't guilt me into doing and being something different. I don't need to accomplish anything earth changing. I just need to enjoy what I have, give thanks and share what I am able. Plus I am surrounded by the best people on Earth, my husband and sons. It's a simple but fulfilling life that I am forever grateful for.

For your birthday, celebrate. Sure life sucks, but you don't. You're worth celebrating. Have an amazing 40th doing whatever will make you happiest!

 

Have courage! I enjoyed my 40s a great deal. I had more confidence than ever, cared way less about what others thought of me, and felt more secure and happy. I also went thru many challenges in that decade because my DH was facing a very serious health issue and was not working...but I had the strength to meet those challenges. I don't think I could have made it thru those difficult times as a 20-30 year old.

I'm about to turn 52 and I focus each day on enjoying my health and happiness. I'm not even close to where my younger self thought I'd be at 50, but I've learned to accept that. Fear and regret are too draining!

I'm not a person who sees age as an indicator of anything, some times in my 30s were great some times were not so great. Same thing in my 40s, nothing to do with age just life being life.

I also loved my 40s. It's a time when we take inventory of where we've been and where we're going. You are in your prime--with knowledge you didn't have in your 20s. You're old enough to know better and young enough to reset your direction if you want, or to affirm where you're at. In my 40's I left a bad marriage, started my own business, and met and married a wonderful man. Enjoy that decade!