What do the 40s mean to you

[peter222999]

Have you sat down and gave a good thought about what should be about the halfway point, or of course for many a little more than half our lives past

I think back about the positives of my life, and the detours. I see that 14 year old boy (me) walking to church each sunday all on my own and happy.

I think about high school,wonder where old friends are (not a facebook guy)

I think about the first time I picked up a drum stick about 20, and life began fast moving event, and unfortunately I got very good, joined a band and the lifestyle, I completely put Jesus in a box somewhere, but he did not forget me,
Seems he waited for me to crash enough times to honestly return to him.
Any how , years rolled by with which I shall not bore you with.

What sticks out in your life, your hopes etc if you care to share

 

[Spiritlight]

I think it means if you want to do it in your life you better start doing it fast if your in your 40's and haven't done it yet.

 

[edwardfsmith]

I agree 100% with both of you.
Time to re-devote myself to Christ.
Time to put all effort into findings a loving Christian relationship and start a family.

I too played the drums and I think about high school and the past more often than is probably healthy.

40 is frustration and despair for me if I am not carful.
I need to renew Christ’s love in me and appreciate the person I am and the life I am promised through him. It feels like it is too late. But time is meaningless through Christ.

 

[Bridgit]

The 40s have meant a departure from my youthful ways and an arrival to wiser and different ways. It brings more thoughts about the future without my kids at home and, one day, without my parents. It brings questions about what the future of the US will impose on my life and what will be the impact of the changing world policies. I wonder about what new doors the Lord will open in my life and what old ones He will close.

It is good to know that no matter what happens in the future, God will always be with us and direct our path, that His love will never change and that He will be faithful with His promises.

My future is in His hands and I need to walk in faith and put my trust in Him, not in this world, nor in the ways of men.

 

[Spiritlight]

The other thought-Look at that the kids are old enough to look after themselves. I am gonna have fun!! With and without them.

 

[peter222999]

It is good to just look into the sky at night and know I am in his hands
even better is that through his word I have a bit of a guide to life, a spirit
with faith, and a father who loves me

 

[QueenMommy]

Second chances.

When I was in my 20s I made a lot of stupid mistakes that would take time to overcome and rectify. So I told myself that my 20s were the decade of making mistakes; the 30s would be the decade of recovering from those mistakes, and the 40s would be the decade of being home free. And so I looked forward to the 40s.

[FONT=georgia, bookman old style, palatino linotype, book antiqua, palatino, trebuchet ms, helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, avante garde, century gothic, comic sans ms, times, times new roman, serif]"It is possible at any age to discover a lifelong desire you never knew you had." ~Robert Brault[/FONT]

Now that I'm actually here, I still believe that, for me, now is a good time to take advantage of things I haven't previously. I am in graduate school, and field placements are part of the academic program. I am probably the 2nd or third oldest person in the office; most everyone around me are in their late 20s or early 30s. And it didn't really bother me until my agency supervisor (who is in her late 40s herself) told me that when in meetings, I should not lend the appearance of knowing more than I actually do, because people who don't know better will ascribe experience to me by virtue of my age.

I don't know what she meant by not lending the appearance of knowing more, because I usually don't say anything (and, for now anyway, most people think I'm around 35). But I think there is a certain confidence that may come across in my dealings with people. That doesn't mean I'm intentionally trying to pull the wool over people's eyes, or misrepresent my knowledge base - I just think that by the time you are in your 40s, a lot of things that used to intimidate you no longer do, and confidence is noticeable.

I enjoy being in school because I think I am more focused, and it means more to me now that I do well. I have special "kinship" with others in my program who are around my age, and even older.

My biggest challenge being in my 40s is realizing that my health is starting to take a toll, and I need to make more of an effort to take care of myself. This year I had a pulmonary embolism and am currently on blood thinners. When I was in the hospital they made me watch a Coumadin video, and I found it amusing that all of the actors in the video were around retirement age. As if people younger than 65 don't get blood clots...

...so nothing makes you feel older than being prescribed a medication purposefully marketed to seniors, when you aren't even 45 yet!

 

[hope4today]

The forties.....Well my forties have been eventful to say the least.
They started with my husband of 20 years taking off with a young girl in her 20's...ouch!
But as has been mentioned here already God is forever faithful.
My three beautiful daughters have grown into wonderful young ladies and I'm grateful for them everyday.
I studied and got my first degree. Now I'm working fulltime plus.
Through all this I hope and believe that God has been making me more and more into the image of Jesus. That is my heart's desire.

I know I am more sure of who I am and what I have to offer.

With what's left of my forties I'm hoping to do my Master's and keep learning. I've started doing some of the things I always hoped I would which is nice.

There are definitely some things that are still sad for me and I hope that maybe before my 40's are out that I would have that someone special I'd still like to have.

I definitely notice that I am much less bothered my some of the 'little' things and troubles in life and just enjoy life for what it is and people for who they are.

Those are just some random thoughts. The funny thing is that I still feel sooooo young and can't believe I'm actually heading toward 50 now!!! Aaaarrgghhh!!! So much of life still to live and enjoy

 

[BrazilianGenX]

I've learned enough by failing.
I've gained much.
And now it's time to give much.
To my kids, to my community, to my elders.
But I must have His strength, because I cannot do it alone.

 

[jsimms615]

It means I'm old enough to know better, but do it anyway.

It means that my gray hairs are starting to outnumber the brown.

It means I turned a corner somewhere and became an adult

 

[rainy]

I think 40's are a steppin stone so to speak to what we have learned from our past to give us the ability to make better dicissions for our future. Not to be so careless with choices and more apprichiation for what we have now and maybe what our losses were along the way it's what we gained during that time that we knowing God has been present during the journey and he continues to be present.Guideing and watching over and picking us up when we fall (sorry not the best speller.).
Hope4today you been through a lot. but you got the best part of your husband your children. It's going to be okay. God is on your side.

 

[bobbyking]

... Crossing 40, I wanted to do something different instead of being stuck in my corporate work... I have since left it behind and am doing something on my own... I am so glad I took the step to do it (with my wife's blessing and approval)

 

[VincentHChough]

For me the 40's mean coming out of the adolescence (finally!) of my lost 30's.
It means falling deeper in love with my wife.
It means seeing my teenage sons become men and having to let them go.
It means huge life challenges as I embark on a new career path.
It means a never ending spiritual walk with Jesus.

 

[Colleen1]

Have you sat down and gave a good thought about what should be about the halfway point, or of course for many a little more than half our lives past

I think back about the positives of my life, and the detours. I see that 14 year old boy (me) walking to church each sunday all on my own and happy.

I think about high school,wonder where old friends are (not a facebook guy)

I think about the first time I picked up a drum stick about 20, and life began fast moving event, and unfortunately I got very good, joined a band and the lifestyle, I completely put Jesus in a box somewhere, but he did not forget me,
Seems he waited for me to crash enough times to honestly return to him.
Any how , years rolled by with which I shall not bore you with.

What sticks out in your life, your hopes etc if you care to share

...growth, regret, wrinkles, frustration, confusion, clarity, relief and dissatisfaction. I can relate to some of the things you've said. Thanks for posting.

 

[Zandy]

It means making plans and finding happiness. Letting the little things go and taking better care of me.

 

[Colleen1]

forties....hmm lots comes up but at least I can laugh about it most days

 

[RenJac]

I loooooooooooove being in my early 40's

 

[makeitwork]

forties mean freedom for me.
i am no longer paralyzed from my childhood abuse, thank you JESUS.
i no longer have hatred, or bitterness in my heart, thank you JESUS.
i can look in my mirror and finally love myself, thank you JESUS.
forties are a new beginning for me because i shall know the truth and the truth shall set me free, thank you JESUS.

 

[Colleen1]

forties mean freedom for me.
i am no longer paralyzed from my childhood abuse, thank you JESUS.
i no longer have hatred, or bitterness in my heart, thank you JESUS.
i can look in my mirror and finally love myself, thank you JESUS.
forties are a new beginning for me because i shall know the truth and the truth shall set me free, thank you JESUS.

So happy for you; that's great. Nice to be able to experience healing. Take care.

 

[Lotuspetal_uk]

forties mean freedom for me.
i am no longer paralyzed from my childhood abuse, thank you JESUS.
i no longer have hatred, or bitterness in my heart, thank you JESUS.
i can look in my mirror and finally love myself, thank you JESUS.
forties are a new beginning for me because i shall know the truth and the truth shall set me free, thank you JESUS.

This is the decade of true freedom in Christ for me too! PTL!!

Hence I've nicknamed it the dancing decade in my sig