Life is good.
It’s a simple statement, but one that I was too busy to acknowledge in my 20s and 30s.
I had stuff to do.
On the eve of my 40th birthday I suddenly became reflective. I paused from the pressures of building a career, sustaining a marriage, raising my son and trying to manage and maintain relationships to think about all of it. There was something about the prospect of turning 40 that caused me to pause.
For the first time in my life, I looked back, and I looked forward.
As I began to reflect, I also began to interview. I started conversations with friends who were fast approaching this important milestone birthday, and talked to a few friends who had already blown out those candles and were on the other side. What I discovered was illuminating: almost all of my friends were so happy. They were established. They had arrived. And, they were content. When asked, they raved about knowing who they were and what they wanted.
At 40, my friends had developed an understanding of how life works. As a result they were strong, confident and comfortable with the choices they’ve made. They had worked hard to improve their circumstances and were living with the choices they had made. More than anything they seemed to know what matters—who matters—and how they want to proceed.
I started this blog because I haven’t seen a lot written about the other side this awesome milestone. Everyone talks about the birthday. What about the aftermath?
Bloggers in their 20s and 30s share the challenges of dating, marriage, buying and decorating a home, and of course youth lifestyle.
But what happens when you’re past all that? When you have the home, the job, the kids? When you’ve survived heartache, career ups and downs, a sick parent, and seen a little death and divorce?
My friends aren’t over the hill. They’re blazing new trails for themselves and their families.
Turning 40 is about so much more. The truth is, when you turn 40, you gain confidence, perspective and security.
Being 40 is everything I thought 21 would be, and so much more.
I am grateful for what I’ve learned so far and I look forward to the lessons that await me, too.
Looking back I’ve learned that’s it’s ok to fail. It’s ok to screw up. Your heart can break–and guess what? You will heal. I’ve learned that it’s worth taking a chance on taking a risk. And I know that when things stink and life seems really horrible, if it’s not ok, it’s not the end. We all bounce back from failures and heartaches. In fact, more often than not, God puts people in your path to make sure that when you fall down, you also get right back up. Trust me. I know.
This blog is about the upside of the aftermath of that 40th birthday. Like me, my readers are embracing the next phase. We’re thinking about happiness and creating a life that resembles our interests and values. This space talks about love, life, food, dogs and style, looking at it from that lens.
At 40, I’m building a life based on what I believe and what I’ve experienced, and I’m making the most of every moment and I want to share that with you here in this space.
Thanks for reading along.
