Hitting our forties can feel a bit surreal. Sure, for many of us, our bodies aren’t what they used to be and neither are our minds. This can feel a bit like a slap in the face but now, three years into the current decade, I have to say, I quite like this current stage of life. My kids are a bit older so in some ways easier, though my eldest is just entering the teen years (hold me) which obviously brings a new set of challenges. But with 40+ years of experience, comes some quality wisdom and this fact alone excites me! This wisdom, quite frankly, makes me feel powerful. And I hope to nurture this sense of power for many years to come: into my fifties, sixties, and beyond. But who knows what the future holds, so for now I’ll just appreciate what I’ve got going on. Here are some of my current 40- something truths.
Awesome 40-Something Truths
1. I know who I am, inside and out.
2. I accept my weaknesses and feel proud of my strengths.
3. By body has the same cellulite and dimples it’s always had (plus more) and I accept it just the way it is.
4. I wear the style of clothes that makes me happy, despite my husband asking if I’m heading to a toga party or running away to a hippie commune.
5. I enjoy that my choice in clothing inspires my husband’s witty remarks. After all, he’s British so banter is his love language.
6. My girlfriends and I have decades of friendships under our (stretchy) belts, even some of my new friends dig the deep chats that I love. We know time together is one of the best kinds of therapy and we prioritize it.
7. There are Joneses everywhere but I don’t try to keep up with them.
Less Awesome 40-Something Truths
8. My neck looks a lot like ET’s (long and stretchy with lines on it).
9. I seem to have a newfound (well, it’s been here for about a decade now) sense of fear when it comes to heights. I have to take a few calming breaths and engage is some motivational self-talk whenever I drive over a bridge, or travel by plane, or even go on a ski lift or ferris wheel.
10. My Resting Bitch Face is pretty impressive these days. Even when I think I’m sporting a neutral expression, I look pissed off.
11. My knees are clicky, which is my excuse to avoid the exercises I hate most. (Ya, lunges, I’m talking about you).
12. Sneezing comes with an element of risk.
13. Words evade me. Even the most basic ones can be hard to pin down.
14. My nose is obviously growing.
How I Make the Most of my 40-Something Life
15. I aim to drink lots of water.
16. I limit cell phone and laptop use, especially when the kids are home.
17. I try to do yoga three times a week.
18. I have a cleaning person who comes twice a month. THIS is a highlight of my life.
19. I compliment people in genuine ways when the moment strikes.
20. I make plans to spend time with friends and family members (even if my house isn’t “ready”) because life is better when the people we love are a part of it.
21. I cocoon myself in a blanket when I need to recharge.
22. I feel grateful for the life I have.
